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EdUT70S.32'££^
^arbarb CoUfge Hi&rarg
THK GIFT OF
SAMUEL ABBOTT GREEN, M,D.
OF BOSTON
(Class of 1851}
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^ HISTORY
UNITED STATES
TO WHICH 18 PRXrZXSD
A BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP OTJR
[ENGLISH] ANCESTORS,
FROM
THB DZfiPSteoir AT BABELj TO TBEZR MZOEATIOV TO AlOEUOA
▲JrZ> OV THB
CONaUEST OP SOUTH AMERICA,
BT THB SPANIABDi.
BT NOAH WEBSTER, LL. D.
NEW HAVEN:
PUBLISHED BY DURRIB A» PECK.
LOUJSVILLE, KY. >
WILCOX> DICKERMAK, fc CO.
18S2.
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
Bntered aooording to the Act of GoogreM, in tbe yftu* 18S2, bj
Noah Webiter, LL. D., in the OIerk*i office of the District Court
of Connecticut District
*•
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PRKFACE
This little volume, intended for the use of American
youth, contains many facts not found in any other history
of the United States. It begins with an account of the
creation and of the dispersion of men^on the aUempt to
build Babel ; and describes our ancestors, descendants
of Japheth, in the wilds of Germany, as they were when
the Romans conquered Gaul, before the Christian era.
A brief account is then given of the conquest of England
by our Saxon ancestors, and of their gradual improve-
ment in the arts of life, down to the reformation. Then
folloAvs an account of the peopling of America, and a
description of the character and manners of the aborigi-
nals, both in Mexico and in the more northern latitudes.
The origin of the Puritans, and the causes of their mi-
gration to Amei'ica, are then stated.
The discoveries of various parts of America made by
European navigators, and the first settlements, are nar-
rated with brevity. In the history of these settlements,
of their progress, of the Indian wars, of the forms oi
government in the several colonies, of the revolutionary
war, and of the measures which were pursued for ob-
taining the present constitution of the United States,
the most authentic authorities have been consulted ; and
some facts are related from the personal knowledge of
the writer. The brief exposition of the constitution of
the United States^ will unfold to young persons the
principles of republican government; and it is the sincere
desire of the writer that our citizens should early under-
stand that the genuine source of correct republican
principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament
or the Christian religion.
The Advice to tJie Young', it is hoped, will be useful
in enli'?htening the minds of youth in religious -'^
(v) . 1*
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moral principlei, and serve, in a degree, to restrain some
of the common vices of our country. Repiblican gor-
emment loses half of its ralue. where the moral and
social duties are imperfectly unaerstood, or negligently
practiced. To extenninate our popular vices is a work
of far more importance to the cnsuracter and hsj^piness
of our citizens, than any other improvements m^pur
system of education.
An impartial history cannot be published during the
lives of the principal persons concerned in the transac-
tions related, or oftheir near connections, without l^ing
exposed to the charge of undue flattery or censure ; and
unless history is fhpartial, it misleads the student, and
frustrates its proper object. Hence the following hfetory
t;oncludes with the organization of the present con*stitu-
tion of the United gtates.
If this history should be read in schools, I would not
recommend that the pupil should be required to commit
entire paragraphs to memory ; but that he should abridge
them inwnti^, extracting only the principal facts, and
reducing them within the cpmpass of a few lines, which
may be easily remembered and recited.
When the book is used only for learning to read and
imderstand wh^t is read, I would recommend that the
pupil should have time to study his lesson before he
reads to the teacher, and that he should be required to
consult a dictionary for the explanation gf word? which
he does not imderstand* In this case, as words often
have different senses, he should be instructed to find the
proper si^ification of the word in the paragraph in
which it IS used. This mode of study would accustom
the pupiil to exercise his mind in discriminating between
the Yf^rious applications of terms, and would be most
efficacious in impressing upon his memory their different
significations.
The practice of writing hooks for youth in the house-
hold langtuige of children^ is proper and use^l for those
who are learning to read ; but as soon as words of com-
mon use, become familiar to the eye, (;hildren should
leave the style of puerility, and read only, or chiefly, a
jotiort elf yated language ; or that which is used by weU
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Til
educated people in adult years. The habit of using the
peculiar phrases of children and vulgarisms should be
counteracted as early in life as is practicable ; otherwise
such phrases will never be lost, but will often infect the
language of polite conversation, in every period of future
life. The practice of reducing language to the ca|)aci-
ties of children, instead of elevating their understandings
to the style of elegance, may be carried to an extent not
warranted by just views of improvement.
History should be read with maps, which are to be
found in all our bookstores and in most of our schools.
New Haven^ 1832.
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CONTENTS.
Chapter 1. Oriffin and varieties of the human race.
2. Teutonic and Gothic nations ; description of our German
ancestors.
3. Saxons ; their conquest of England : character, manners,
and gradual improvement till the reformation.
4. The ijeopling of America by the aboriginals.
5. Description of the Mexicans. ^
6. Discovery of Ainerica ; voyages to different parts of North
America ; grants and settlement of English colon fes.
7. Origin of the Puritans j settlement of New England.
8. Indian wars.
9. Political events.
10. Military events ; wars of the colonies.
11. Bills of credit.
12. Piracy in the American seas.
13. Diseases and remarkable events.
14. War of the revolution.
15. Constitution of the United States.
16. Origin of civil liberty in the Christian religion.
17. Character and institutions of the Puritans, the first
founders of repubUcan government.
18. Greneral description of the United States.
19. Advice to the young.
20. General Waslungton's Farewell Address.
( viii )
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HISTORY
OF TBE
UNITED STATES,
CHAPTER L
ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN RACE.
Section 1. Ofthejirst man. In the beginning God
created tlie heaven and the earth, and the sun, moon,
and stars. He created also grass, and other plants ; ana
yarious animals for the use of man. And last of all
he created the first man, called Adam, endowed him
with rational faculties, and gave him dominion oyer
the earth, and over the beasts of the field, the fishes of
the sea, and fowls of the air.
2. C^t?iejirst woman. The first woman, called Eve,
was made by God as a helper to Adam. Being taken
from Adam's body, she was presented to him. and
received as his intimate companion, to share witn him
the toils and the felicities of life. These were the
progenitors of all the human race.
3< Pirst employment of m4in. After Adam was
created, God planted the ^den of Eden, in which he
placed the man to dress it and to keep it. Hence the
cultivation of the earth was the first employment of man :
as it is yet the principal, the most important, and one of
the most honorable of ail occupations.
4. Longevity of man. In the first ages of the woild,
men lived to a great age. Most of the early patriarchs
lived to the age of nine himdred yea^ or more, and Me-
thuselah, the oldest of them, lived to 4he age of nine
hundred and sixty-nine years. ^
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
10 HISTOnT OF THE UNITED STATES.
6. Of the flood. Soon after men had multiplied upon
the earth, thev became extremely wicked, and so pro-
voked their Maker that he determined to destroy naost
of the race. For this purpose, he brought a floocl upon
the earth, which destroyed the whole race, except one
family. This was the family of Noah, who was a
righteous man, and who, by God's direction, constructed
an ark, in which he and his wife, and his three sons and
their wives, were preserved.
6. Family of Noah, Noah had three sons, Shem.
Ham, and Japneth. The latter was the eldest son ; ana
by the descendants of these three sons, the earth was
re-peopled, after the flood. And to give assurance to
Noah and his posterity that the earth should not be again
overwhelmed with a deluge, God set the rainbow in the
clouds, as a token of his covenant that he would not
again destroy the human family.
7. Dispersion of men. In the first age of the world,
the descendants of Noah constituted one family, ana
had the same language. But migrating from the east,
they settled in the plain of Shinar ; and there undertook
to build a city and a tower that might reach to heaven,
and thus exalt their renown and prevent their disper-
sion. This displeased God, and he confounded their
language, so that they were compelled to abandon their
project. This was the cause of their dispersion. The
city -^ich they attempted to build was called Babel,
that is, confusion.
8. Division of the earth. The three sons of Noah
were the heads of three great families. The family of
Shem settled on the great plains of Syria and Arabia.
Of this family are the Chaldeans, Syrians, and Arabians;
and among tnese was Abraham, the father of the He-
brews or Israelites. The posterity of Ham peopled
Egypt and other parts of Africa. From Japheth de-
scended the inhabitants of the northern parts of Asia,
and all the nations of Europe.
0. Descendants of Japheth. The scripture informs
us that Japheth had seven sons ; Gomer, Rlagog, Madai,
Javan, Tubal, Mesheck, and Tiras. Of these, Tiras is
supposed to have settlea Thrace, now a part of Turkey
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
OfifGiN OF THE HX7MAM RACE. 11
in Eturope. Javan's descendants settled in Greece.
The descendants of the other sons peopled some part of
Persia, Asia Minor, and the countnes ahout the Kuzine
and Caspian seas.
10. Descendants of Javan, Eiisha, one of Javan's
gons, is supposed to be Hellas in Greece ; Spain is sup-
posed, with good reason, to be intended by Tarshish ;
and tne Rhodanim were undoubtedly the inhabitants
of France on the Rhone ; this latter name being con-
tracted from Rhodan. The northern nations of Europe,
called Teutons and Goths, who were ancestors of me
Germans and Saxons, were tm^ descendants of Qpmer
and his son Ashkenaz, and of Tiras. These descend-
ants of Japheth's sons last named, migrated from the
east very early, and from them descended the English,
and their posterity in the United States. The ancestors
of the Germans and English migrated from Persia.
This is certain ; for many German and English words,
such as father^ mother^ brother^ daughter^ and many
others, are Persian words in popular use to this day.
11. Primitive inhabitants of Britain. The first in-
habitants of Britain were of the race of Celts, who set-
tled in Italy and Gaul, now France, and in Spain.
Those appear to have been the first inhabitants of the
south of Europe. The Celts, or aboriginals of Britain,
were conquered or supplanted by the Cj-mry or Cimbri,
from Denmark and Holland, the ancestors ol the Welsh ;
but their descendants or people of the same race re-
mained m the north and west of Ireland, and in the
Highlands of Scotland. Before the Christian era, the
south part of Britain was possessed by tribes from Bel-
gium, or the low countries on the continent.
12. Varieties of the humaii race. Although mankind
are all descendants of one pair, Adam and Eve, yet
great diversities now exist in the color, form, and features
of different nations. In classing the varieties of men,
writers on natural history are not agreed. But the fol-
lowing division into six classes or varieties, may be
suflScient to present a tolerably correct view of the
diversities of men, viz. the Lapland race, the Tartars,
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12 HISTORY OP THE tTNITED STATES. - - v ^
Hindoos, Negroes, Europeans, and niitive Indmns jUr
aboriginals of America.
13. Lapland race. The extreme nordiem «^krts-4ir
Asia, Europe, and America, are inhabited by ^)fcSU-
moids, Lapps, Greenlanders, Esquimaux, and other
tribes of men quite different from the rest of the human
race. They have small bodies^ many of them four feet
high or littk iu^^il, ^ lli^^tJ visage, a short, flat noa^,
eyes of a yellowiaii bfo^vn or dark color, the eyelids
drawii towards the igpplea, the chft^k-boiies highj the
mouth very lar^e, w iA thick lips, the head large, the
bair black and BtfaigMpii(-^ skiD of a dark gniyish color,
the TToice thin und sftte^lkirJ^^
LAPLANDER TRAVELING IN A SLUD.
14. Tartars. The Tartars inhabit the northern and
central parts of Asia. They are of a middle size, strong
and robust. The upper part of the face is broad, and
wrinkled, even in youth ; the nose is short and flat ; the'
eyes small and deep in the head, and sometimes sepa^'
rated by a distance of four iaches ; the cheek-bones are
yery high ; the lower part of the face yarrow ; the. chin
long and projecting ; the teeth of an enormous size, and
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ORiaiN OF
toparated : the eyebrows i
the hair black, and the" c-.
They have little beard, nij
the Calmucs are the most
nil
J::.
13
] the face flat ;
m olive color.
Uf this variety
"C- -^
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1
Vi
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^^
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H
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CALMUCS.
15. Hindoos. The Hindoo variety comprehends the
inhabitants of the southern parts of Asia, and of the
isles south of Asia. Their bodies are slender, the hair
straight and black ; the nose aquiline. In the northern
parts of India, the color of the skin is olive, but in the
southern parts quite black. They come to maturity at
an earlier age than the natives of cooler climates. Th«
female Hindoos are wrinkled at thirty years of age.
These people are cowardl}r and eflfeminate.
16. Negroes. Theinhabitantsof the interior of Africa
are black, with a smooth soft skin ; the hair is short
and woolly ; the eyes of a deep hazle ; the nose flat and
short ; the lips thick and tumid ; and the teeth of an
ivory whiteness. The body of the negroes is generally
well formed and of full size, but the legs are oiten bent
outwards, and the heel projects farther than that of
£iropeani.
2
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14
HrST<Mlt or titl: tJNITED StATfiS.
17. Ettrorpeitih^. TJtf m'>at distinguished yariety ojf
men comprelitrj!-^ ni^i*;[ ul the inhabitants of Europe^
the Georgians ; ' I < ■ r i- i ; i ns in Asia, and the Turks ;
togetht f \v i th t ! Li; J J.JJ IS of Europeans in America.
In the middle region of Europe and Asia, the inhabit^
ants are of a clear white complexion ; along the shores
of the Mediterranean, their color has a shade of olive.
This race of men are characterized by the size and sym-
metry of the body, the strength of the limbs, the rigor
of the understanding, and by their improvements in
science and tlie arts.
EUROPEANS.
18. Natives of America. The sixth variety of the
human race comprehends all the natives or aboriginals
of America, except the Esquimaux. These are proba-
bly descendants from the Asiatics, as they greatly re-
semble the present inhabitants of the northern Chinese.
Their bodies are straight, well made, and of a good size ;
their skin of a copper color j their hair straight and
black ; their beards thin ; their noses flat ; their cheek-
bones high, and their eyes smalL
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ORIGIN OF THt: HUMAN RACE.
15
AMERICAN INDIANS.
QUESTIONS.
I. Who created the world and mankmd 1 What waa the
name of mankind and the first man 1
3. How was the first woman made, and what was her name %
3. What was the first employment of man 7
4. What was the age of the'first generations of men T
5. H ow were the inhabitants of the earth destrojred, and
whjr 'i Who were preserved firom destruction '? — ^how and why ?
p. How many sons had Noah 1 Which was the eldest ?
and what mgn was given that men should not be again d»-
stroyed 7
7. How, when, and why were men dispersed 1
8. How was the earth divided 7
9. 10. Who were the descendants of Japheth 7 What
countries did they settle 7
II. Who were the first inhabitants of Britain 7
13. What are the principal varieties of the human irc^^
13. Describe the Lapland race.
14. Describe the Tartars.
15. Describe the Hin4oos.
16. Describe the negroes of Afrtea.
17. Describe the Europeans.
|d. Describe the aboriginals of America.
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16 HISTORY OP tlfE CMITED STATES.
CHAPTER II. .
TEDTONIO AND GOTHIC NATIONS.
19. State of Ancient Germany, For three thousand
years after the dispersion of men, the inhabitants of the
north of Europe continued in a rude uncivilized state.
They are described bv Roman authors as men of enor-
mous stature, tall ana somewhat fleshy, and of a fair
complexion, with blue eyes, and a fierce countenance,
which struck terror into their enemies. They were
robust, being inured to cold and hardships, with little
clothing in winter, and scarcely any in summer. To
harden their bodies, they were accustomed to plunge
into cold water, every morning, as soon as they rose
from sle^p. In battle, their first onset was impetuous
and almost irresistible, but their strength and ardor
were soon exhausted.
GERMANS.
20. Food. The nide inhabitants of Europe subsisted
at first on the fruits of forest trees, particularly acorns,
and on the flesh of wild beasts, fish, and fowls. As
*• * - Digitized by Google
TEUTONIC AND GOTHIC NATIONS. IT
they advanced in population, they betook themselves to
the raising of cattle. These constituted their principal
means of subsistence, and their wealth. As they had
no money, cattle were used in payments and in trade,
instead oi money j and hence fee^ which originally
signified cattle, came to signify money.
21. Manner of eating. Contrary to the custom of
the eastern nations, who reclined at the table, the rude
nations of Europe took their meals sitting^ either on
jnats of straw or on skins, each with a separate table,
^hich was a board, either on legs or placed on the knees.
Hence our use of board for table, and for diet, to this
day. Their drink was chiefly beer or hydromel, made
ftom. the honey of the forest. Their dishes were a pot
or pitcher of baked earth, horns,- or human skulls of
prisoners taken in war.
22. Clothing. The rude nations of Europe wore
very little clothing, even in winter, and for tne most
part none at all. A Scythian, who was without clothing,
"when the snow was falling, was asked by the king,
whether he was not cold. The man replied by asking
the king, whether his^iic^ was cold. No, said the king.
?^either am I cold, said the man, for I am all face.
The gaijnenl chiefly worn was the sack, which was the
skin of a beast, in a square form,' like a mantle, covering
only the shoulders and breast. It was called by the
Persians guanac, whence our word gown. In a later
stage of improvement, they wore bracks, or breeches,
and hose, a kind of trowsers.
23. Habitations. Savage nations, having little oc-
cupation except war and hunting, spend much of their
time in eating and sleep ; reposing on the earth in sum-
mer, and on skins in winter. The inhabitants of Europe
had at first no fixed habitations ; they roved in quest of
pasture for their cattle, or for the sake of plundering
their neighbors. They sometimes erected huts like the
wigwanas of American ladians. Some tribes lived
"wholly in wagons, covered with skins, in which whole
families were conveyed from place to place* Xn winter,
inany of them lived in large caves in the e^h. Such
was the condition of the northern nations of Er"""
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IS HISTORY or THB UNITED STATES.
when the Romans invadefl Gaul, now France, half i^
century before the Christian era.
34. Assemblies and festivals. Among the wwlik^
nations of Europe, no person could appear in publi<^
without his arms, consisting of a sword, lanc^, anci
buckler. These they wore also in their festivals and ii\
visits to private families. When they sat at table, eacl^
man had behind him a servant who held his lance and
his buckler. When they rose from table, each man.
resumed his arms, and wore them, whether engaged in
dancing, play, or other exercise. At death their arms
were burnt or laid in their graves.
25. Dressing' of the hair. Many of the inhabitants
of Europe had light, red, or sandy hair, and the hair of
the head was valued as a great ornament. Hence both
sexes took great pains to aid its growth, and to deepen
its color to a fiery red. For this purpose, they used a
kind of pomatum or soap, composed of fat, ashes, and
lime. In the time of Augustus, the Roman ladies in-
troduced the fashion of tinging the hair red, and to such
excess was it carried, that it came under the censure oC
some of the Christian fathers.
26. T?ie beard. The beard was treated with great
respect. The usual practice was to shave the chin and
the cheeks, but they left large mustaches or» whiskers.
And it was customary to swear by the beard. In this
manner, Clovis, king of France, and Alaric, king of the
Goths, ratified a treaty of peace ; Alaric touching the
beard of Clovis, the two princes swore eternal friendship.
27. Ornaments, It was customary for princes and
chief men to wear necklaces and bracelets. Historians
mention an army of Gauls arrayed in order of battle,
whose front rank was composed of men adorned with
collars and bracelets.
28. Labor and amusements. In the early ages, men
were devoted to war and the chase^ and warriors dis-
dained the drudgery of labor. This was left to old men,
women, and children. But these rude nations were
greatly attached to music and poetry. Hence they had
an oraer of men called bardSy who composed hymns in
honor of brave men, and sung them at festivals. Hence
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
TBUTONIO AND o6THIC NATIONS. 19
their first laws, customs, and religious rifes, were re-
hearsed or recorded in verse ; and songs were their only
histories.
29. Recitations of songs. The recitation of 8ong$
pt ppeQis was often accompanied with the music of an
instrument, and with dancing in various forms. In
these dances, the steps of the reet accorded to the mea-
sure of the verse, and hence the word foot came to be
wsed for a division of a verse, consistmg of a certain
number of syllables; Their dances were performed by
men in arms, and the practice was to keep the medsure
of the verse oy striking a sword or halberd against the
buckler. This was indeed to heat time,
30. Staie of learning. The inhabitants of northern
Europe lived for two or three thousand years without
the knowledge of letters. Even when letters were in-
troduced into the south of Graul, i^ow France, by the
Ghreeks, who first settled Marseilles, the Gauls and
Grermans neglected and even despised the use of them.
The druids or priests pretended to have all the learning
of those rude a^es, but they would not commit their
knowledge to wnting. This prejudice against learning
letters continued down to the time of Charlemagne, in
the n^ith century, and even later; for that emperor
could not write his own name ; and for ages after that
period, many of the nobility* could not write their nam^s.
instead of their proper signature to written instruments,
they made a mark and set their seals.
31. Passion for war. The love of war is a remarka-
ble trait in the character of our ancestors. When not
engaged in a wax of nations, the chiefs would soipetimes
invade their neighboring chiefs, either to revenge an
injury or to seekhooty. Hence the deadly feuds which
existed at all times, between different tribes, producing
^fuarrels and bloodshed. Such feuds between the Eng-
lish and Scots continued down to the time of queen
Elizabeth.
32. Private combats. This passion far war among
ferocious men jwave riise to private combats or duete.
Cowardice was detested ; and when one person injured
or offended another, the injured party 4iad recourse to
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20 HISTORY OP THE CNtTCD St AtES.
open combat to obtain revenffe op< redress. When ft
person was challenged, he could not decline a combat
without an entire loss of character. Sometimes a man
would challenge a friend, even from levity, to contend
with him for superiority in a private encounter. Hence
the savage origm of the present custom of duelling.
33. Hospitality, With all their barbarism and fero-
city, our ancestors were distinguished for unboundc^d
hospitality to strangers, Every stranger was not only
invited, but urged to enter their cabms, and partake
freely of such refreshments as they afforded. The in-
habitants of a village would even contend earnestly ta
pbtain a stranger for a guest.
34. Feasting, and Gaming-, Our ancestors were
much addicted to feasting, and often spent whole nights
in drinking and revelry. Their feasts were attended
with songs and dancing ; and ended often in fencing or
mock-fights, which sometimes produced bloodshed. — ,
Their fondness for gaming was excessive ; for they
would stake not only their property, but their liberty,
upon the cast of a die. Such was the origin of customs
which, with some refinement or abatement, continue to
characterize their descendants to this day.
35. Females, Our ferocious ancestors were not only
Iwrave men, but utter enemies to slavery. . Their love
of freedom was inextinguishable; for they preferred
death to slavery. Rather than be taken prisoners, thev
would put to death their wives and children, their sicE
and wounded, and then destroy their own lives. In
this hatred of slavery, the men aid not surpass the wo-
men. When advancing to battle, the females would
sometimes mingle with the troops, and with cries and
tears urge them to fight bravely; and when the troops
gave way, they would rush among the fugitives, and
with reproaches, compel them to renew the contest, and
win the battle or perish in the attempt.
36. Religion, Our Pagan ancestors believed in one
Supreme Being or Great Spirit, and in many subor-
dinate deities, who presided over the elements. But
they had neither statues, t^&ples, nor altars. They
woMhl^d the sun, the moon, and the earth ; but the^
8AX0N1« 81
perftmned their worship under treei, on the topt of hills,
«nd uound circlet of stone.
QUEflnoNa
19. What was the state of Andent GeHnanyl
90. How did the original people of Germany subsisti
SI. What was the ancient manner of eating 1
22. What was the clotlungof llie ancient (Snrmansi
|23. What were the habitations of savage nations 1
^ 24. What were the festirals in ancient Europe 1
525. What was the manner of dressing the hairl
26. How was the beard treated 1
27. Whatomaments were worn 1
28. What were the employments of the German nations t
29. What kind of songs and music were used, and what wast
^he or^m c^foot in poetry 1
30. What learning had ^e ancient Germans 7
31. What was the ruling passion of rude nations ?
33. What was the ori^ of private combats or duels 1
33. Were the rude nations of Grermany hospitable t
,34. What were the feasts and games of the Germans 1
J35. What was the character of males and females fer brayery \
36. What was the religion of our pagan ancestors ?
CHAPTER III.
Vn, Cff the Saxons catd Angles. The ancestors, of
the English who first arrived in Britain are generally
known by the name of Saxons, But a tribe of them
were called Angles^ a i^ame formed from eng^ or ing^
which, in Saxon, signifies a meadow or plain. These
were inhabitants of the flat lands or plains along the
banks of the Elbe and Weser, and on the borders of the
Baltic sea. From these, England^ originally called
Britain^ derives its present name ; and hence the word
English,
38. The Romans conguered Britain, and had i>os-
fession of it n^ort than tour hundred years. During
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22 HISTORY OP THB tJNITED STATES,
this time, they protected the Britons from their enemies
the Scots and Picts. When the Roman troops had left
the isle, the Britons were ^eatly harrassed by dieir
.enemies, and sent to the contment to invite the Saxons
to come to their assistance. The first body of Saxons
arriyed in three ships, under Hen^t and Horsa. in the
year 449. They were received with joy by the Britons ;
and uniting witn them, marched against the Picts and
Scots, and defeated them in a bloody battle.
39. Settlement of the Saxons in England, The
SaxonSj being pleased with the country, soon formed
the design of taking possession of it for their permanent
residence. They then made a proposal, to which the
Britons consented, that a re-enforcement should be
invited from the continent. Accordingly Hengist and
Horsa sent for additional troops, which came, to the
number of five thousand.
40. Alarm of the Britons. With this jprmy the Saxon
chiefs determii^ed on seizing a part of the territory of
England. They made peace with the Picts, a^nd b^gan
to quarrel with the Britons, about their provisions and
promised rewards ; and enforced their threats by fire
and sword. The Britons, now awakened from their
delusion, found that they had enemies instead of friends
in the Saxon auxiliaries. Filled with consternation,
some of the Britons fled to Gaul and settled in Britanny,
in the north-western part of that country, now France ;
others took shelter in the wood^ and others submitted
to slavery.
41. • War between the Britons and Saxons, Notwith-
standing the cowardice and submission of many of the
Britons, there were many who determined to resist the
Saxons, and for this purpose put themselves under Vor-
timer, a son of Vortigem, their chief, whom they des-
pised. Many battles were fcwight between the Britons
and Saxons ; in one of which Horsa was slain, and
Hengist became sole commander of the Saxons. This
illustrious chief grained a great victory over the Britons,
at Crayford, wmch gave him possession of Kent, or
which he assumed the title of King. This was the
first Saxon Kingdom in England.
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SAXOMd. 29
4^ Conquest of the north of England, Hengist,
with a view to strengthen his power^ invited his son
Octo from the continent. This chief collected a body
of men, and sailed for England; and plmidering the
Orkneys on his way. he arrived on the coast of North-
umberland, of whicn he took possession, together with
all the country to the Frith of Forth. Hen^^ist gained
several victones over the Britons ; and the last victory
at Wippidfleet struck such terror into the Britons, that
they gave him little further disturbance. He died in
the year 488.
43. Kingdom of Sussex. The kings who succeeded
Hengist maintained their dominion, not without some
reverses. But Ethelbert, in a long and prosperous
reign, gained many victories and enlarged his domin-
ioas. The success of these chiefs encom^ed other
Saxon chiefs to pass over to England. A body of Sax-
ons arrived, and landed at Cymenshore, and defeated
the Britens in a great battle, near Wittering. These
successes enabled their leader Alia to take Uie title of
King", and found the Kingdom of Sussex.
44. Kingdom of Wessex. Cerdic, another Saxon
chief, with a band of warriors, arrived in Britain in the
year 495, and landed in the west. On the day of land-
mg he engaged and defeated an army of Brrtons, and
from that time he was engaged in a war with them,
without intermission, for twenty years, and with various
success. But receiving re-enforcements from the con-
tinent, he prosecuted the war, gaining many victorieiis,
till he had established a petty kingdom, called Wessex,
that is the kingdom of the West-Saxons. He died in
the year 534.
45. Kingdom of East-Saxons, ^c. Encouraged hf
these successes, other bodies of Saxons passed over to
Britain, at different times, and established the kingdom
of the East-Saxons, consisting of what are now the
counties of Essex, Middlesex, and part of Hertfordshire.
They also founded the kingdom of the East Ansles, in
the territory, now Cambridge, Suffolk, and Norfolk ; also
the kingdom of the Mercians, comprehending thfe mid-
dle counties from the river Severn to Yorkshire and
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%4 HISTORY OF TBK UNITED STATES.
Lancashire. Other bodies of adventurers landed in the
north, and founded the kingdom of Northumberland,
whicn included the southern part of Scotland.
The seven petty states or kingdoms before named
have been called the heptarchy. These kingdomsy
after a series of wars and revolutions, which lasted two
hundred years, were imited imder Egbert, in the year
827.
46. Of the Danes, Not many years after Egbert
came into possession of England, the country began ta
be harrassed by the invasion and depredations of the
Danes. It was during this period that the brave and
humane King Alfred distinguished himself. He de-
fended his country with great ability ; but at last his
forces were so weakened and dispirited, that he was
abandoned, and he found it necessary to disguise him-
self as a rustic and take refuge in a cottage. On one
occasion, the good woman of the house, who did not
know the character o{ her guest, scolded him severely,
for not turning some cakes baking before the fire ; telling
him he would be ready enough to eat them, though he
would not take the pains to turn them.
47. Shiccess of Alfred. King Alfred did not continue
long in this disguise. He left the cottage, collected a
few of the nobles, and erected a fort for his residence
and protection. Hearing of the success of the earl of
Devonshire over a party of Danes, he resolved to make
a vigorous effort to recover his crown. For this purpose
he collected his forces ; but before hazarding a battle,
he disfi^sed himself and entered the camp of the Danes,
as a harper, and spent several days in amusing them
with his music and pleasantries. Having obtained a
perfect knowledge of their camp, and olServed their
unguarded state, he left them, summoned tlie nobility
with their men, attacked the Danes by surprise, and
gained a complete victory. He then proposed to their
chief Guthrum, that he and his followers should embrace
the Christian religion, and join the English in opposing
the ravages of the Danes. This proposition was ac-
cepted; Guthrum and his men were baptized and
settled in England, A. D. 890.
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SAXONS. 35
48. Conquest of Enffland by the Danes. After
Alfred's treaty with the Danes, the kingdom enjoyed a
few years of peace. But the Danes renewed their inra-
sions, and harassed the kingdom for a long series of
years. At length in the year 993, Swein, king of Den-
mark, and Olav^ king of Norway^ invaded England
with a great fleet, pass^ the winter m Northumberland^
and in the spring mvested London. Ethelred, the king,
girchased their departure with a large sum of money,
ut peace was of short continuance. In the years wJ
and 998, armies of Danes again invaded and made
dreadful devastations, and Ethelred s^in bribed them
to depart. But in the year 1002, great numbers of the
Danes were massacred by the English, and to revenge
this horrid cruelty, Swein again attacked England with
a powerful army, and spread desolation on all sides.
After a series of struggles, the English were finally con-
quered, and submitted to the Danish King Canute, A.D.
1017.
49. Events under the Danes. Canute died in 1035,
and the kingdom was divided between two sons, Harold
and Hardicanute. Alfred and Edward, sons of Ethehred,
English heirs to the throne, were on the continent.
Emma, their mother, invited Alfred to her court, where
he was seized by Harold, his eyes put out, and he waS'
confined in a monastery in Ely, where he died. Harold
died soon after, A.D. 1039. He was called Barefoot,
for his swiftness in running.
50. Hardicanute. Conqicesl by the Normans. Har-'
dicanute,king of Denmark, was invited to England by
the nobility ; but his oppressions disgusted the English.
He died in the year 1041. The kingdom then returned
to the lawful heir, Edward. After being an exile in
Hungary for forty years, he returned to England, but
died within a montn. The kingdom afterwards fell to
Edward, the Confessorj but he died in the year 1066,
and Harold, of the Godwin family, was crowned king
of England. In this year, William, duke of Normandy,
invaded Engknid with an army of sixty thousand men ;
and after a dosperate battle at Hastings, in which Hairold
3
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96 HISTORY or THE dMlTED STATES.
was defeated, obtained possession of the crown, whidi
was continued in his family.
61. Summary of revolutions in England, The
Romans fomid the inhabitants of Britain in a barbarous
state ; they conquered them, and governed them more
than four hundred years. Most of the Britons were
driven into Wales by the Saxons, and the Welsh are
their descendants. The dominion of England was in
the Saxon conquerors for five hundred years ; it then
passed to the Danes, for a short period ; from the Daiies
to the English, and from the English to the Normans.
William, the Norman, disposed of the baronies chiefly
to Normans, and from them hare descended many of
the modem families of the nobility. But the ^eat Dody
of the English nation are the descendants of the Saxons
and Danes, chiefly of the Saxons -, and from them have
descended a large portion of the inhabitants of these
United States. The common popular language of this
country is of Saxon original, with a mixture oT Danish
and Welsh.
52. Christian Religion, It is uncertain when the
Christian religion was introduced into Britain. There
is, however, some evidence that it vnis introduced during
the age of tne apostles, wh^n the Romans had possession
of the country ; althoiigh it is not ascertained by whom
it was first preached and propagated. It is certain that
it was introduced and had made some progress as early
as the second century of the Christian era ; and the
Christians, in the reign of Diocletian, suffered perse-
cution.
The Saxons, who conquered England, were pagafls,
and wherever they established themselves, they extir-
pated the Christian religion, with its professors, and in-
troduced their ov<rn heathen superstitions. They mur-
dered the Christian clergy without mercy, and destroyed
their places of worship.
53. Conversion of the Saxons. After being some-
time established in England, the Saxons be^n to msk&
treaties vnih the Britons, and their hatred of the Chris-
tian reli^on began to abate. Ethelbert. king of Kent^
married Birtha, a daughter of Cherebert, king of France/
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SAX0V9. 27
Birtha was a Christian, and it was stipulated in the
mama^ contract, that she should enjoythe free exer-
cise of her rjBligion. This was A. D. 670. Pope Gre-
gory, about the year 696, sent Augustin, or Austin, a
monx, with for^ other monks, to instruct the inhabitants
of England in the Christian religion. This mission was
attended with success ; and the Christian rel^on, not
without many obstacles and temporary apostasies, was
gradually propa^ted^ and ultimately became the reli-
gion oif all the inhabitants of England, in the seventh
century.
64. Learning. Before Christianity was introduced
into Engla4d, the Saxons had neither learning nor
books. But the missionaries, who visited Ennand,
introduced some books from Rome, and learning began
to be cultivated. For a long time, leaminfi^ was con-
fined chiefly to the monasteries ; and the first Saxon
writers were monks, For ages, most of the nobility,
and many of the priests, could neither read nor write.
But there were many monks who were masters of Greek
and Latin ; and in the seventh century flourished the
venerable Bede. who was a man of great literary ac-
quirements, ana left many valuable writings. King
Alfred w^s a learned man for the a^ in which he lived ;
and to him is ascribed a translation of Orosius from
Latin into Saxon. He also translated the Psalms.
56. Arithmetic, As late as the twelfth century, the
Saxons had no marks for numbers, except the letters of
the Roman and Greek alphabets ; but they had no con-
venient ipethod of notation to express combinations of
numbers. The Arabian figures, now used, were not
known ; and this want of figures introduced the method
of expressing numbers by 3ie fingers, and making cal-
culations by their various positions. This appears to
us a childisn play, but was then a serious stuay.
66. Law and medicin^. The Saxons, when they
first arrived in England, had no written laws, but were
governed by customs; and when the laws were first
reduced to writing^ they were few and brief; and ex-
tended to few objects. The healing art was equally
Jow. It was confined chiefly to women, who gathered
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28 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
and prepared herbs ; and applied them with superstitious
ceremonies. After Christianity was introduced, the
clergy began to study medicine in Latin authors, and
ac^tuired such knowledge as to supplant the female
doctors.
67. Arts. Under the dominion of the Romans, the
arts of civilized life were introduced among the Britons.
Before that period, the Britons raised com for subsist-
ence ; but under tne Romans, Britain became a granaiy
of com for the continent. The primitive Britons lived,
in winter, in caves ; and in summer, in huts, made oi
stakes, wattled, and covered with oranches of trees ;
under the Romans, convenient houses were erected;
many improvements were introduced. But the Saxons,
who were barbarians, put an end to almost all the arts,
and reduced Britain to a savage state. Towers, temples,
walls, were all demolished, and most of the inhabitants
were extirpated. In the reign of Edg^, in the tenth
century, agriculture was so little cultivated, that the
price ol an acre of the best land was sixteen Saxon
pennies ; the value of which was about four shillings
sterling, or less than a dollar. In consequence of the
neglect of agriculture, famines were frequent.
68. Architecture, The first Saxon invaders of Britain
had little knowledge of architecture, especially of ma-
sonry. In the seventh century, cathedrals were built
of wood and covered with reeds. But in this century,
Wilfrid, bishop of York, who had visited Rome, intro-
duced masonry, and erected a cathedral of stone at
Hexam, whicn was covered with lead. About the
same time, the art of making glass was introduced.
But stone buildings were rare, even in the eighth and
ninth centuries.
69. Commerce. The Saxons carried on little trade
with foreign countries. But it is remarkable that for
ages a slave trade was carried on by the inhabitants,
who eiroorted men, women, and children. It was the
sight of some English slaves in market at Rome that
induced Gregory to attempt the conversion of the inha-
bitants of England to Christianity. This practice of
selling slaves continued down to the Norman conquest
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SAXONS. , 29
From Bristol, men and women were exported to Ireland ;
and it is related in the life of Wulstan, bishop of Wor-
cester, at the Norman conquest, that long ranks of per-
sons, of both sexes, and of the greatest beauty, tied
together with ropes, were daily exposed in market
60. Coin. In early ages, the Saxons had little coin ;
in lieu of it, slaves, cattle, sheep, horses, and cowS,
supplied the defect ; all being valued at certain prices.
These were called living money, and were received in
payment for lands and goods. The oldest Saxon coin
that now remains, is supposed to have been made in
the seventh century, Tne tirst coins were clumsily
made, and not stamped. They passed by weight, and
this introduced the word pound in money. But the
scarcity of coin rendered it many times more valuable
than it is now. By the laws of Ethelred, it appears
that the price of a man or slave was one pound of Saxon
money j the price of a horse was thirty shilUnga ; that
of an ox, six shillings ; that of a sheep, one shilling.
61. Persons and longevity. The Saxons, like all
the Grcrmans, were tall, stftng, and robust ; tney were
very fair in complexion ; their eyes were generally blue
or gray, and their aspect stern and ferocious. The
females were handsome, as" their descendants are at
this day. The men, accustomed to war and to hardship,
were generally healthy ; and many of themr lived to a
great age. In the monastery of Croiland, at one time,
were several monks above a hundred years of age.
Plarenbald died aged 168 years ; Swarling at the age
of 142; and Turgar, aged 115.
62. Morals. The Saxons were not only savage m
their manners, but very vicious. Bishop Lupus, ia one
of his sermonsj represents them as murderers, thieves,
robbers, liars^ and parricides ; and guilty ofalmost every
species of cruise. Admitting that some abatement may
be made from this representation, all history testifies
that, before they were converted to Christianity, the
Faxons and Danes were abominably wicked and savage.
The Danes were all pirates } and pirate and seaman
were synonymous tenns.
63. Superstition, After, their conversion to Chris-
■uigitizea by Google
30 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
tianity, the Saxons, or English, as they may be called,
became much addicted to sacred things, and superstitious
observances. Then commenced a fondness for monastic
life. Not only the clergy, but great numbers of laymen
of the highest ranks, were infected with this spirit ;
and among the Anglo-Saxons, not less than ten kings
and eleven queens, and nobles without number, aban-
ddhed the world and retired into monasteries. The
clergy favored this spirit ; and used every art of persua-
sion to induce them to build or enter monasteries^ as
the sure means of procuring the pardon of their sms.
At one time they raised an alarm that the end of the
world and the day of judgment were at hand, and by
this means procured many donations to the church.
64. Pilgrimaffes and relics. The Saxons placed
much dependence on the merit of pilgrimages to Rome
and Jerusalem. These pilgrimages were enjoined upon
them as most satisfactory penances for criines, and as
acceptable services to (3od. Few persons could die in
peace, till they had kissed the pope's toe. Kings,
queens, nobles, prelates, liibnks,* nuns, saints and sip-.
ners, wise men and fools, undertook journeys to Rome^
which was thronged with pilgrims. To this superstition
was added a great veneration for the relics of saints ;
and old rags, decayed bones, and rusty nails, were
coveted and admired; they were sent as presents by
princes to each other, and preserved in churches as in-
estimable treasures ; they were even deposited in cas-
kets adorned with gold. Men would steal and rob to
obtain the pretended little finger of a saint.
65. Ijove of music. The religion of the Saxons and
Panes, after popery was established, consisted chiefly
in superstitious rites, pilgrimages, penances, donations
to the church, and a rage lor relics. Among the religious
services was the performance of psalmody, or singing,
in cathedrals and monasteries. This fondness for music
was much increased by the introduction of organs, in
the ninth century. Even private devotions consisted
chiefly in singing ; the singing of a great number of
psalms being considered as an atonement for sins. All
kinds of penances might be redeemed by singing a
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SAXOMS. 81
number of ^Ims and pater-nosters. A penitent, con-
demned to last a number of days, might redeem tbcm
by singing six pater-nosters and the hundred and nine-
teenth psalm SIX times over for one day's fast Sudi
was. the false piety of that ignorant and miserable age.
66. Vices. Among the Saxons, the predominant
vices and crimes were murder, theft, perjury, bribery,
oppression of the poor, and intemperance m eating ana
drmkin^. Gluttony and drunkenness were the common
vices of all ranks. Whole nights were often spent in
feasting, revelry and drunkenness. This was the case
even in their reli^ous festivals. These vices, origina-
ting among uncivilized people, were the corrupting
fountains from which have flowed similar vices in
modem times. Witchcraft, sorcery and divination were
common among all classes of the Saxons.
67. Virtues. Among the Germans, hospitality was
universal, and this continued among the Saxons in Eng-
land. The English kings spent a great part of their
revenues in entertaining stran^ers^ and their own no-
bility and clergy j and the nobles unitated their sove-
reigns. Monasteries were, in a degree, public houses,
where strangers were lodged and entertamed. In Ger-
many, chastity and fidelity in marriage were observed
with remarkable strictness. But before the Norman
conquest, these virtues were almost lost.
68. Dress. Among the Saxons and Danes, hand-
some hair was esteemed a ^eat ornament. Before
marriage, females left \heir hair to flow in ringlets, bnt
after marriaee, it was cut shorter, tied up and covered
with some kmd of head-dress. The clergy, regular and
secular, were obligjed to shave the crown of the head,
and keep theur hair short. The shape of this clerical
tonsure, which amon^ the English was circular, but
among the Scots semicircular, was the subject of gpCre
and long debates, between the clergy of the two nations.
The English wore shirts of linen ; over which they
wore a tunic, reaching to the middle of the thighs ; some
with sleeves, some without them. They also wore
breeches, or trowsers. About their bodies, they wore
belts in which were stuck their swords. The commmi
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d4 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
71. Cd^tles. During the period under consideration,
murders, robberies and violence were so common, that
the barons of England, as in France, erected castles for
their residence. Their situation was generally on an
eminence and near a river. The site was of considera-
ble extent, and surrounded by a broad, deep ditch, called
ihefossy and sometimes filled with water. Before the
great gate was an out-work, called a barbacan or ante-
mural, which was a strong high wall with turrets upon
itj for defense of the gate and drawbridge over the
ditch. On the inside of the ditch was the wall of the
castle, eiffht or ten feet thick and twenty or thirty feet
high, with a parapet, and on the top crennds^ a sort of
embrasures. From the top of this wall and from the
roofs of buildings, the defenders discharged arrows,
darts and stones upon the assailants. The g^te ojf the
castle in this wall was fortified with a tower on each
side ; it had thick folding doors of oak, w;th 9ii\ iron
portcullis. Within this outward wall w?is an open
space, and commonly a chapel. Within this \ras an-
other wadl. and withm that the chief tower, four or five
stories hign, with thick walls. This was tne residence
of the prince, prelate or baron to whom the castle be-
longed: Under ground was a vault or dungeon for the
coimnement of prisoners.
72. Armor, The art of making defensive armor was
cultivated in the early stages of civilization. It was
known to the Saxons before the conquest, and was
improved under the Norman race of kings. A sijjt of
armor consisted of many pieces of metal, nicely jointed
to allow free motion to the limbs ; finely polished and
beautifully gilt. Samples of this armor are now to be
seen in the tower of London.
73. Clothing, The dressing and spinning of wool
and flax was practised before the conquest ; but these
arts were greatly improved by the Flemings who set-
tled in England after the conquest. There were gilds
or fraternities of weavers which had royal charters, with
various privileges. Tapestry hangings, on which were
historical representations, were made in England^ and
the ^?mn females were distinguished for malpin^ ele*
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SAXON^ AFtfiR THE NORMAN CONQUEST. S5
sant embroidery, adorned with figures of men, beastd,
Sirds and flowers.
74. Greek fire. Among the weapons of defense, in
war, was a composition called Greek fire, as it was
imported from the eastern empire. This was kept in
Tials or pots, and discharged from machines upon an
attacking enemy. It bumt with a bright flame, and so
intense a heat, as to consume any combustible sub^
stance. It penetrated the warrior's armor, and peeled
his flesh from his bones. The composition of it was
kept a profound secret ; but it is now known to have
been a compound of naptha, bitumen and sulphur. It
was an object of great terror to besiegers of cities and
castles.
75. Chivalry. It was under the Norman princes that
chivalry was mtroduced into England. Noble youths
intended for the profession of arms, were placed, as
pages or valets, in the families ofgreat barons, where
they were instructed in the rules oicourtesy and polite-
ness, and in martial exercises. The courts of princes
and barons became schools of chivalry, in which young
men were instructed in dancing, riding, hawking, hunt-
ing, tilting, and other accomplisnments. to qualify them-
selves for the honors of knighthood. From pages they
were advanced to the rank of esquires.
76. Exercises: iilts and tournaments. Once H t^reefc
in Lent, crowds of sprightly youth, mounted on hoi^e-
back, rode into the fields in bands, armed with lanceS
and shields, and exhibited representations of battles.
Many of the young npbility, not yet knighted, issued
from the houses of pnnces, bishops, earls, and barons,
to make trial of their skill and strength in arms. The
hope of victory rouses their spirits ; their fiery steads
neigh, prance, and champ their foaming bits. The
signal given, the sports begin ; the youths, divided into
bands, encounter each other. Some fly, others pursue
without overtaking them ; while in another quarter, one
band overtakes and overthrows another.
77. KnigUhood. After spending seven or eight
years in these schools in the station of esquires, these
youths received the honors of knighthood, from thtf
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30 HISTORY OP THE UNITED aTATBSv
prince or baron. To |)repare for this ceremony, they
were obliged to submit to severe fastings, to spend
nights in prayer, in a church — to receive the sacrament,
tobathe and put on white robes, confess their sins, and
hear sermons, in which Christian morals were explained.
Thus prepared, the candidates went to a church, and
advanced to the altar with his sword slung in a scarf
about his neck. This sword he presented to the priest,
.who blessed and returned it. When the candidate
approached the personage who was to perform the cere-
mony, he fell on his knees and delivered him his sword.
78. Dubbing of Knights, The candidate having
taken an oatk was adorned with the armor and ensigns
of knighthood, by the knights and ladies attending the
ceremony. First they put on his spurs, beginning with
his left foot ; next his coat of mail ; then his cuirass,
then the armor for his legs, hands, and arms ; and lastly,
they girt on his sword. Then the king or baron de-
scended from his throne or seat, and gave him the acco-
lade, which waa three gentle strokes with the flat of his
sword on the shoulder, or with the palm of his hand on
the cheek ; pronouncing in the name of St. George, " 1
make thee a knight ; hs, bravej Juirdy and loyaiy The
young knight then rose, put on his shield and hehnet.
mounted his horse without the stirrup, and displayed
his dexterity in the management of his horse, anudst
the acclamations of a multitude of spectators.
79. Coats of arms, (fc. The Saxon warriors adopted
the practice of adorning their shields and banners with
the figures of animals, or other devices, every one ac-
cording to his own fancy. But after the conquest, and
in the times of the first crusades, more attention was
given to these devices ; families adopted such as suited
meir fancy; they were appropriated to families, and
became hereditary. This was the origin of heraldry,
which, in England^ is quite a science ; every family of
distinction having its escutcheon.
80. Magnificence. Increase of wealth was attended
with an increase of magnificence. Instead of mean
houses, in which the English used to spend their nights
in feaating and revtbry, the Norman barons dwelt in
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SAXONS AFTER TIlB NORMAN CONQUEST. 37
Stately palaces, kept elegant tables, and a splendid
equipage. As there were no good inns in those times,
travelers were obliged to cany their own bedding and
provisions, as they still are in Spain. A nobleman or
a prelate, when he traveled, was attended with a tm^ji
of servants and attendants 3 knights, esquires, pa^'es,
clerks, cooks, confectioners^ gamesters, daneers, barV)erSj
wagons- loaded with furmture, provisions, and "{jlate.
To each wagon was chained a huge masti]^ and on
each pack-horse sat an ape or a monkey. Sucq was the
retinue of Thomas Becket, chancellor of England.
81. Surnames, In early ages, men had no surnames^
Among the Saxons^ it was customaij to distin.'2uish
tnen by some descriptive epithet, as Jdm, the hmcki
Thomas, the white ; Richard, the strong. After^rards,
it was the practice to designate particular persons by
their occupations; as John, the smith; William, the
saddler ; David, the toifor, ^c; and in time the name
of the occupation became the surname of the family.
After the conquest, the Norman barons introduced the
practice of taking their surnames from their castles or
estates; a practice which was formerly common in
France, and from which many names of families have
been derived.
82. Religion. The state of religion under the first
Norman kings was miserably low, consisting ehi^y in
building churches and monasteries, and enriching them
with donations ; or in a round of insignificant ceremonies^
Then flourished school divinity, which consisted in
discussing minutely nice abstruse questions in logic and
morals. Two methods of preaching Were in use ; one
was to expound the scripture, sentence after sentence,
in regular order. This was called postulating^ and the
preachers postUkUors. The other method was for the
preacher to declare, at first, what subject he intended to
preach on, without naming a passage of scripture as a
text. This was called dedaring. About the beginning
of the thirteenth century, the method of naming a text
was introduced, and the preacher divided the subject
into a great number of particulars. This was severely
4
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38 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
censured at first, particularly by Roger Bacon ; but it
inally became universal.
The scriptures were divided into chapters and verses
by cardinal Langton, in the beginning of the thirteenth
century.
83. Gunpowder and guns. The discovery of gun-
powder is ascribed to Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth
century ; but that philosopher concealed the discovery,
by transposing the letters of the words which were
intended to emress charcoal or the dust of charcoal, in
his mention of the substance. It was, therefore, a long
time before the manufacture of this article became
common.
The precise time when guns or cannon were first
used is not ascertained. It is said that Edward III. had
cannon in his campaign against the Scots, A. D. 1327.
They were called crakys. It is certain, cannon were
used in Scotland in 1339 ; and Edward III. used them
in France, in the famous battle of Cressy, and at tlie
siege of Calais, A. D. 1346. The first cannon were
clumsy, and wider at the mouth than at the other end.
Small guns were called Jtand^annon, carried by two
men, and fired from a rest fixed in the ground.
84. Vices and miseries. In the thirteenth and four-
teenth centuries, astrology was in vogue among all
classes of people. No pnnce would engage in an en-
terprise, till he had consulted the position of the stars.
The belief in miracles was common. Pope Innocent
VI. believed Petrarch to be a magician, because he
could read Vhrgil. Judges of courts were almost uni-
versally dorhipt ; justice was every where perverted by
bribes; some judges were found guilty, and fined in
enormous sums; one judge was condemned to be
hanged, for exciting his followers to commit a murder.
Robbery was so common that no person could travel in
safety. Robbers in Hampshire were so numerous, that
juries would not find any of them guilty. They formed
companies under powerful barons, who shared with
them the booty. Princes, cardinals, and bishops, werd
robbed, as they were traveling, and sometimes impri-
ficmed, till they paid large sums for their ransom. Th^
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SAX0N3 AFTER THE NORMAN CONQUEST. 39
conjman people were every where oppressed, ignorant,
and wretched.
85. Dress, Never were wantonness, pride, vanity,
folly, and false taste, carried to a greater excess, than
in tne richness, extravagance, and variety of the dresses
of the nobles in this period. The love of finery, the
passion of weak and silly people, infected all the nigher
orders, kings, barons, and knights. At the marriage of
Alexander III. of Scotland, to Margaret, eldest daughter
of Henry III. king of England, tne long of England
was attended by a thousand lights, dressed in silk
robes; and these were, the next day, exchanged for
other dresses equally expensive and splendid. Furred
garments, fine linens, jewels, gold and silver plate, rich
furniture and utensils, the spoils of Caen and Calais,
were brought into England, and every wcnnan of ngak
had her share. King Ricnard II. had a oo^t which
cost him thirty thousand marks ; and Sir John Arundel
had no fewer tnan fifty suits of cloth of cold. This love
of finery infected the common people ; and a sumptuary
law was passed, A. D. 1363, to restrain this extrava-
gance ; but with Uttle efiect.
86. Fashions. Fashion had, in this period, a no less
despotic influence, than it has in modem times. The
men wore pointed shoes, in which they could not walk,
without fastening the points to their knees with chains.
The upper part of the shoe was cut in the shape of a
church window. These shoes, called crackows, con-
tinued in fashion three hundred years. The men of
fashion wore hose of one color on one leg^ and of ano-
ther color on the other ; a coat, half white, and half
black or blue ; a long beard ; a silk hood buttoned under
the chin, embroidered with odd figures. Fashionable
ladies wore party-eolored tunics, half of one color and
half of another ; and small caps wrapped about the
head with cords; girdles ornamented with gold and
silver, and short swords, called daggers, fastened a
little below the navel. Sometimes their head-dresses
rose like pyramids nearly three feet high, with streamers
of fine silk flowing and reaching to the ground.
87. Manners. The manners of the English, by ,
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40 HISTORY OP THE DNITED STATES.
their intercourse with foreign countries, graijually im-
proved. But even in the reign of Henry VH. they
were rude. When Catharine of Arragon arrived in
England, Henry was informed the princess had arrived
and had retired to rest ; yet Henry was so uncourteous
that he ohiiged her to rise and aress herself; and he
that night gSanced her to his son Arthur.
In the rei|;n of Henry VIII. so rigorous and tyrannical
was the disfjipline of families ; so formal, reserved, and
haughty w ere parents, that sons, arrivea to manhood,
were oblif^ed to stand uncovered and silent, in presence
of their parents ; and daughters of aduh years, were
compel ed to stand by the cupboard, not being permitted
to sit e,r repose, otherwise than by kneeling on a cushion
till tb.eir mothers had left the room.
^}. Furniture (^houses. The apartments at Hamp>
ton Court were on one occasion, furnished each with a
ca ndlestiek, a basin, a goblet and ewer of silver ; yet
tbe king's chamber, except the bed and cupboard, con-
tained no furniture except a joint-stool, a pair of andirons,
and a small mirror. The walls of the wealthy were
adorned with hanging or arras, and furnished with a
cupboard, long tables, or rather loose boards placed on
trestles ; also, with forms, chairs, and a few jomt-stools.
The rich had comfortable beds ; but the common people
slept on mans or straw pallets, under a rug, with a log
for a pillow, Glass windows were seen only in churches
or the man£ lions of the rich ; and the floor was clay,
covered with sand and rushes. Such was the condition
pf the English in the reign of Henry VIII. or beginning
of the sixtoenth century.
89. StaXe of the church. From the time when Chris-
tianity wa 3 introduced into England, the pope of Rome
had been gradually gaining power and ascendancy in
all parts of Europe. The rights and privileges of the
English clergy, under the first Norman princes, had
been surrendered to the Roman pontif, and by means
of various taxes, immense sums of money were extorted
ftom thepa, to enrich the coffers of his holiness, who
advanced foreigners to the richest bishoprics in England,
and even sold to Italians livjngs before they became
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SAXONS AFTER THE NORMAN CONQDEST. 41
void. This exercise of his power was prohibited by
statutes of parliament in the reigns of Edward III. and
Richard II.
90. Beginning of the Reformation, The first effort
to reform the errors of popery in England was made by
John Wiclif, in the reign of Edward III. and Richard if.
He was bom about the year 1324, and advanced to a
professorship in Oxford, where he was educated. He
rejected many of the popish doctrines; many of the
rites and traditions of the chujrch ; and boldly asserted
that in the apostolic age the bishop and priest were of
the same order. He opposed the doctrine of transub-
stantiation and the infallibility of the pope ; he declared
the church of Rome not to be the head of pther churches ;
that Peter had not the power of the keys, any more than
the rest o^ the apostles ; and that the gospel being a
perfect rule of life and manners, ought to be read by the
people. His opinions were, in many particulars, the
same as those now entertained by Protestants.
91. WicUps opinions condemned, Wiclif 's doctrinea
reached Rome, and were condemned by pope Gregory
XI. His successor, Urban, wrote to king Richard and
to the archbishop of Canterbury, to suppress his doctrine.
Accordingly, his doctrines were condemned in a c<mivo-
cation of bishops ; he was deprived of his professorship ;
his books and writings were oumt, and he himself was
sentenced to imprisonment. But he retired and escaped.
He declared himself willing to defend his opinions in
JElome, but for his sickness and infirmities. He was the
first to translate the New Testament into English. But
although his doctrines v/ere condemned and his books,
nearly two hundred volumes, were burnt ; he left many
disciples, who were called Lollards.
92. Laws to oppose Reformation. In the year 1215,
it was decreed by the Council of Lateran, that all here-
tics should be delivered over to the civil magistrate to
be burned. In the reign of Henry IV. it was enacted
by parliament that persons convicted of heresy, and re-
fusing to abjure their errors, should be delivered over to
the secular power, and mayors, sherifs. and bailifs,were
to receive them and bum them before the people. Even
4*
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42 HISTOKT OP THE UNITED STATE8.
the reading of the scriptures in English subjected a
person to death and forfeitures. Under these laws,
hundreds of the Lollards suffered imprisonment and
death. This attempt at reformation by Wiclif was
nearly a hundred and fifty years before the days of
Luther.
09. Henry VIIL Thus stood the laws respecting
religioii, wlien the crown devolved on Henry VIII. in
the year 1509. Henry was bred a scholar ; was well
acquainted with Latin, and with school divinity ; and
was very vain of his attainments. But he was devoted
to papacy ; and after Luther had begun to oppose the
pope, Henry wrote a treatise in defense of the Romish
l^iigion. For this he received, from the pope, the title
of uefimder of the Faith — a title still borne by the kinga
of England.
94. Catue of Henry^a opposition to popery, Henry,
aDter living with his queen twenty years, became weary
of her, and determined to obtain a divorce. For this
purpose, he applied to the pope. But the pope, for some
reasons of policy^ held him in suspense. Henry then
applied to tne universities of Europe, for their opinion,
whether it was a^eable to the law of God for a man
to marry his brother's wife, and whether the pope could
dispense with the law of God. The answers were in
the negative. The parliament agreed with the univer-
sities. Henry then obtained an act of parliament, de-
claring the Mnff to be (he supreme head of the church.
This act, which took from the pope his power of gov-
erning the English church, was the heginning of the
. fefomuUion ; from which we see that Henry's persondt
enmity to the Roman pontif was the moving cause, and
not any opposition to the Catholic reli^on. The king
finally obtained a divorce from the spiritual court, and
afterwards married Ann Boleyn.
95. Translation of the scriptures. Wiclif had ren-
dered th^ New Testament into English in the fourteenth
century ; but before the invention of printing ; and the
work was suppressed by the adherents ofpopery. The
next translation was by one Tyndal. This was con-
^mned by the Catholic clergy; but such Fas the
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SAXONS AFTER THE NORMAN eONQUEST. 43
eagerness of the people to read the scriptures in the
English language, that it spread with wonderful rapidity.
The king attempted to call in all copies of the translation,
in 1530, and promised a more correct version. But the
book was reprinted on the continent, and copies were
imported by th^ merchants, and privately sold. It was
then moved in a convocation of the clergy^ that the
whole Bible should be translated into English. But
the old clergy oj^osed it ; alledging that this would lay
the foundation of innumerable neresies, as the people
were not proper judges of the sense of the scriptures.
In reply, it was said, that the original scriptures were
written in the vulgar language, and that CJhrist com-
manded his hearers to search the scriptures. In short,
archbishop Cranmer revised and corrected the version
of Tyndal, Coverdale, and Rogers, and this was allowed
by authority to be read by the people. In 1568, several
bishops and other learned mep revised Cranmer's copy,
and this version, called the bishops' Bible, was read in
churches, till the present version was made in the reign
of James I.
90. Reformation impeifect. The reformation from
popery was left, in Henry's reign, far from being com-
plete ; most of the doctrines and rites of the Romish
church being retained. In the reign of his son Edward
VI. a further progress was made, and a liturgy prepared,
in which many of the popish doctrines and rites were
not admitted. But in the reign of his successor, queen
Mary, who was a papist, almost aU the laws which
favored a reform were repealed, and popery was re-
established. Mary's rei^n was short; and soon after
queen Elizabeth ascended the throne, the laws in favor
of the reformation were revived ; the liturgy of Edward,
with alterations^ was adopted ; and the church of Eng^
land was established nearly on its present basis.
QUESTIONS.
69. What was the state of agriculture after the Norman
conquest 1
70. When was architecture improved "J
71. Describei the castles of the barons. Why wwe they
erected!
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44 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
72. What was the unnor of the Saxons 1
73. What was the clothing 1
74. Describe the Greek fire.
75. When was chivalry introduced into England 1
76. Describe tilts and tournaments.
77. Give an account of knighthood.
78. How were men made knights 1
79. What was the origin of coats of arms and heraldry 1
80. Describe the magnificence of the barons and prelates.
81. Give an account of the origin of surnames.
83. What was the state of religion under the first Norman
princes 1 What methods of preaching were in use 1 AVTien
and by whom were the scriptures divided into verses 1
83. When and by whom was gunpowder discovered, and
when were cannon first used 1
84. Describe the vices and miseries of the English in the
13th and 14th centuries.
85. What was the dress *?
86. What were the fashions 1
87. What were th? manners of the English in the reigi^ of
Henry VII. and Henry VIII. 1
88. Describe the furniture of Iwuses.
89. What was the state of the church under the Norman
princes 1
90. When and by wliom was the reformatio^ begun 1
91. 92. How was the reformation opposed 1
93. Character of Henry VIII. 1
94. Why did Henry VIII. oppose ppppry, and what was the
beginninfT of the reformation 1
95. When and by whom were the scriptures first translated
in English 1
96. How and when was the liturgy of the church of England
introduced 1
CHAPTER IV.
AMERICA.
97. Of tJte peopling of America. It is evident that
many centuries after tire old continent was well inhab-
ited, and highly civilized, the American continent re-
mained the residence of wild beasts only. By what
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AMERICA. 45
means inen tbund their way to this continent, is not
quite certain ; but there is good reason to believe, they
passed from the northern parts of Tartary, to the north-
western coast of America, not long after, and perhaps
before the Christian era. The Mexican traditions and
historical paintings all deduce the origin of the Mexican
nations from the north-west.
98. Progress of settlements hy the natives. It is
very probable from the Mexican history, that the natives
of America migrated in hordes, clans^ or tribes ; moving,
like the Tartars, with their families and substance.
These tribes probably ranged first along the western
shore of North America, following each other in suc-
cession, like waves following waves, as they were in-
vited to the south, by the inildness of the climate, or
were driven by other tribes in the rear ; until they seated
themselves in the warm and fertile vales of Mexico.
That country, as well as Peru, had become very popu-
lous when first visited by Europeans.
99. Settlements on the Atlantic. It is probable that
when the warmer regions of America had become po-
pulous, the Indians began to spread themselves over the
eastern parts of the continent, following the course of
rivers, and the shore of the Atlantic. In this progress,
they would first find the rivers that fall into the ^Ossis-
sippi, and pursuing them, would find and plant the rich
intervals on these rivers. Then continuing their course,
they would be led along the Alabama, the Tennessee,
fbe Ohio, and the Wabash, to their sources, and crossing
the mountains and the lakes, would pursue the streams
that fall into the Atlantic, And hence, perhaps, the
tradition among the Indians of the United States, that
their ancestors came from the south-west, and that the
Great Spirit resides in that quarter.
100. Time when America was first peopled. The
Toltecas, the most ancient tribe in Mexico, date their
establishment in that country as far back as the seventh
century of our era. This nation was neaiiy destroyed
by a famine and mortal pestilence about the year one
ihousand and thirty -one. Other tribes succeeded this,
and iu the twelfth century, the Mexican tribe, which
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46
HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
lived on the north of the ffulf of California, mi^ated,
and after various removals, fixed their abode in the
country, which bears their name, about the year thirteen
hundrea and twenty-five. This was about two hundred
years before the Spaniards discovered and conquered
the country.
101. Resemblance among the Indian tribes. All
the tribes of the primitive inhabitants of America appear
to resemble each other, in all essential parts of their
character, except the Esquimaux, in Labrador. The
people of Mexico and Peru, when first discovered, had
made considerable advances towards an enlightene4
state, beyond the other nations. This was owing to a
crowded population, which compelled them to cultivate
the earth and attend to the arts for subsistence. But
in the northern parts of this continent, the Indians lived
in a wild, savage stnte.
MEXICAN MAN AND WOMAN,
102. Climate of, Mexico, Mexico, the capital city
of the country, is in the nineteenth degree of north lati-
tude, and of course in a warm climate. The valleys
and plains of the country are hot, but the mountains are
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AMERICA. 47
SO high as to have a temperate air, and some of them,
at times, are clothed with snow.
103. City of Mexico. Mexico was founded in the
year 1325, on a small isle in the midst of the lake Te-
zeuco. It was surrounded by water, but communicated
with the land by three causeys, raised with earth and
stone, wide enough for ten horsemen to ride abreast ;
besides two, which were narrower and supported aque •
ducts to convey water to the city. When taken by the
Spaniards, it was ten miles in circumference, and con-
tained sixty thousand houses.
104. Buildings of the Mexicans, The Mexicans
did not know the use of iron, but they had axes of copper,
and were acquainted with the use ojf lime. Their public
buildings were of great size, with walls of stone laid in
hme, and some of them polished to an uncommon de-
gree. They built bridges also with stone arches.
105. Religion of the Mexicans. The Mexicans had
an imperfect idea of a Supreme Being, and believing
him to be invisible, they never represented him by sen-
sible objects. They believed also, like the Greeks and
Romans, iii a number of inferior deities, who presided
over the air, fire, earth, water, mountains, and the like ;
and they believed also in an evil spirit, or god of dark-
ness. They deified the sun and moon, and believed in
the doctrine of transmigration ; that is, that the souls
of men after death pass into other animals, as cattle,
birds, fishes, and the like.
106. Worship of the Mexicans. Although the
Mexicans did not represent the Supreme God oy any
sensible objects, yet they had images of their inferior
deities, made of stone, wood, and some of them of gold
or other metals. These were worshipped with prayers,
fasting, and other austerities, kneeling and prostrations,
with many rites and ceremonies. To these idols, also,
they sacrificed human victims, selected from their slaves
or prisoners of war, in such numbers and with such
baroarity that the accounts of them cannot be read with-
out hofix)r and astonishment. Such is the state of na-
tions ^who do not enjoy the advantages of civilization
and the Christian religion.
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48
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
107. Traditions respecting the deluge, ^c. The
Mexicans had distinct traditions among them of the
creation of the world, the universal deluffe, the confusion
of languages, and the dispersion of mamtind ; and these
events they had represented in their paintings. They
believed that all mankind had been overwhelmed with
an inundation, except one man and one woman, who
were saved in a small boat and landed on a mountain.
But these traditions were mingled with many fables.
108. Priests. The idolatry of the Mexican nations
was remarkable for the number of priests consecrated
to the respective gods. It was their business to perform
the sacrifices, compose hymns, take care of the temples
and ornaments of the altars, keep the calendar, preserve
the paintings, direct the festivals, instruct the youth,
and offer incense. The priests never shaved their faces,
but painted their bodies, bathed every evening, fastea
often, and observed great temperance and austerities.
The Mexicans all practiced severe cruelties on their
own bodies, such as piercing and mangling the flesh,
absurdly imagining that such mortifications would please
their deities.
MEXICAN PRIEST a::d TrArtnon.
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▲M£IUCA. 4^
109. Mexican year. The year among the Mexicans
i6onsisted of three hundred and sixty-five days. These
days were distributed into eighteen months of twenty
days each, and the five additional days were called
useless^ and employed in receiving and returning visits*
The year began on the 26th day of February ; but every
fourth year it began one day earlier. The century, or
long period, consisted of fifty-two years, which was
divided into four periods of thirteen years each ; and the
year, every fourth year, beginning one day earlier, thir-
teen of these anticipated days earned back the beginning
of the year, at the close of the century, to the fourteenth
of February. Then the new century again began on
the ^th.
* 110. Ceremonies at the birth of a child. When a
child was bom, it was immediately bathed in water, atid
the gods were implored to be propitious to the infkht.
On mis occasion the parents received the congratulations
of their friends. The diviners were also consulted as
to the future good or ill fortune of the child ; for the
Mexicans, like other ignorant i^eople, were believers in
lucky and unlucky days and signs. On the fifth day,
after the birth, the child was bathed a second time, when
the friends were invited ; and if the parents were rich,
great entertainments were made, and suits of apparel
given to the guests. On this occasion, if the child was
a male, a bow and arrows, or somie instrument or habit,
which the child would use^ when grown up, were pre-
pared ; and if a female, a spindle, or some dress suitable
for one of her condition.
111. Marriage ceremonies. Marriage agreements
among the Mexicans were made by the parents, after
conjsulting the oracles or divinerg, who pronounced on
the omens of good or ill. The damsel was solicited by
women chosen for that purpose, who went to the house
at midnight. In all cases, the parents of the young
woman reftised to grant the Jirst request. At the second
request, the parents deliberated with the relations, and
afterwards sent an answer. At the day appointed for
the nuptials, the parents conducted the bride to the
house of her father-in-law, where a priest tied a corner
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50 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
of her gown to the mantle of the bridegrocmi ; shetbeft
walked round a fire, and both bride and bridegrocnu
offered copal to the gods by way of incense, ami ex-
changed presents with each other. At supper, they
gave mouthfuls to each other alternately, and the cere-
mony was concluded by the attendants with dancing.
112. Funeral rites. In burying the dead, the Mexi-
cans practiced many sujperstitious ceremonies, among
which was the dressing ol the body with pieces of pa^r,
and then with a habit suitable to the rank of the de-
ceased, and his occupation in life. They ^ave to the
dead also a jug of water to serve him on the journey,
and killed a small animal like a dog, and tying a string
about its neck, buried it with the deceased, as a com-
panion on his way ; or if the dead body was burned,
the animal was burnt also, and his ashes collected and
buried in an earthem pot, and eighty days after, they
made over it oblations of bread ana wine. Wnen a
prince died, his body was clothed with cotton garments
richly ornamented with gold, silver, and gems ; and hi»
slave and attendants were killed, to serve him in their
respective offices in the other world.
113. Education of youth. The Mexicans, notwith-
standing their many superstitions and barbarous customs,
exhibited, in their manner of educating youth, an exam-
ple worthy of imitation. All mothers, if able, nursed
their own children ; and if a stranger was taken as a
nurse, none was accepted unless of sound health.
Children were accustomed to endure hardships, heat
and cold. They were earljr taught to attend the tem-
ples and worship the gods, imploring their aid and pro-
tection ; to abhor vice, and to be modest and respectful
to aged people. The boys were instructed in the use
of arms or utensils of some art ; the girls were taught
to spin and weave ; and all were directed to bathe often,
and observe great cleanliness.
114. Punishment of the vices of youth. Great respect
was paid to truth among the Mexicans ; and whenever
a child was detected in a lie, they pricked his lip with
the thorn of the aloe. They tied the feet of girls
that were too fond of walking abroad. A disobeciient
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AMERICA. 51
€r qpanrelsome boy was beat with nettles. Another
pfomshment was to make the offender receive into his
nostrils the smoke of the chilli, a kind of pepper.
115. Government of the Meancan empire. The
Mexicans were governed by a monarch, but he was
chosen by four electors appointed for that purpose, from
among the noble families, and distinguished by their
prudence and probity. As soon- as they had made a
choice, their electoml power expired, and a new appoint-
ment was made forthwith, either of the same or of other
persons. If a vacancy happened among the electors,
before the death of the king, his place w$is immediately
supplied by a new appointment. The laws of the em-
pire obliged the electors to choose a king from among
the brothers, nephews, or cousins of the deceased king.
116. Classes of people. The Mexicans were divid^
into nobles, priests, and common people. Of the nobility
there were different ranks, each of which had its own
proi)er privileges and badge. The nobles wore orna-
ments of gold and gems on their garments, and to them
)>elonged exclusively the rig^t of enjoying the high
offices at court. To entitle a man to the fi^t rank of
Bobiiity, he must possess great wealth, and have given
pnquesdonable proof of his bravery in battle. He was
also compelled to undergo without complaint, fasting,
abstinence, and reproaches. A principal badge of this
dignity was an ornament of goM suspended from the
cartili^ of the nose.
117 Landed property. Lands in Mexico were divided
between the crown^the nobles, the cities or communities,
and the temples. The crown lands were held by certain
noblemen, who made an acknowledgment for them to
&e king, ny presenting him with birds, or nosegays or
flowers, when they paid him a visit -, and they were
l^lso obliged to repair the royal palace, if necessary ; to
aid and direct in cultivating his ^rden, and to attend
him, when he appeared in public. These lands de-
scended to the eldest son of tne noble, but could not be
alienated.
118. Lands of the nobles and communities. The
lands which the nobles owned were transmitted from
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(|3 HISTORY OF TBE GNITSD STATES.
father to son ; some of these could be sold, hut not to
plebeians or common people.
The property of the cities or the Tillages was divided
among them according to their number, and each district
held its share, independent of the others. These lands
could not be alienated.
110. Public revenues. All the conquesed provinces
of Meqdco paid tribute in fruits, animals, and the meta)s
of the country, according to a certain rate; merchants
p»aid their portion in gocxls. and artisans in the produc-
tions of their labors. In tne capital of eadi province,
was a magazine for the com, and other articles paid as
tribute. One province was taxed with the payment of
four thousand bandfiils of beautiful fethers ; another,
paid twenty bags of cochineal ; a third, a certain quantity
of cocoa, cotton fi^arments, or tiger skins ; a fourth, a^
certain number of plates of gold, necklaces, ear-rings^
or emeralds ; and a fifth, a number of cups'of honey, or
basins of yellow ocher, axes, mats, and the like.
120. Courts of justice. In most of the large cities
and provinces, justice wbs administered among the
Mexicans by a supreme magistrate, from whose sentence,
whether in civil or criming cases^ there was no appeal.
This ofBcer appointed the subordmate judges, and the
receivers of revenue, within his district, and any one
Tjrho usurped his authority or made use of his ensigns,
were punished with death. In one kingdom, the judges
were rendered independent, by estates assigned to their
office, and passing to their successors, not to their heirs.
The Mexicans had no lawyers or {)rofessional advocates ;
every suitor and criminal producing his witoesses and
makmg his o-^m allegationsr
121. LawSytninishments, and crimes. The Mexicans
were govemea by fixed laws, which were rigorously
enforced. Treason was punisned b)[ tearing the traitor
in pieces ; those who were privy to it^ and did not dis-
close it, were deprived of their liberty. To maltreat an
embassador, minister, or public messenger, was death.
The same punishment was infiicted on those who ex-
cited sedition ; on those who removed or changed boun-
djiries qf lands es}aj)lished by authority ; on judges who
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▲aiERiCA. 53
gSLT^ sentence contrary to law, or todc bribes ; on thoM
who disobeyed military orders ; on murderers, and those
^railty of incest, adultery, and unnatural crimes. Guar-
2ians who embezzled the estate of their wards, were
lianged without mercy ; and so were sons who squaa-
^rS their patrimony in vices.
122. Other crimes. It was a capital crime for one
«ex to dress in the garments of the other, and to rob in
the market The thief of an article of little value was
punished only by being compelled to restore it 5 if a
person stole things of value, he was made the slave of
the person injured. If the ihie£ could not make com-
pensation, or the thing stcden did not exist he was stoned
to death. To steal maiz was a crime ; out a poor tra-
veler was permitted to take of maiz or fruits near the
highway, as much as would satisfy present hunger.
Drunkenness in youth was a capital onense ; in older
persons, was {)unished with seventy ; a nobleman being
stripped of his rank and office, and a plebeian being
shaved and having his house demolished. One who
told a lie to the injury of another, lost a part of his lip
or his ears.
123. War. No profession omojuf the Mexicans was
held more honorable than that of arms. No person
could be crowned kins until he had ^ven full proof of
his courage, and had taken with his own hands the
victims to be sacrificed at his coronation. Those who
died Jn the service of their country were supposed to be
the happiest in another life. Great pains were taken
to mure children to labor, hardships, and danger ; and
to inspire them with high notions of military honor.
To reward the services of warriors, the Mexicans devised
^ee militarv orders : that of Princes, of Eagles, and
of Tigers, which were distingui^ed by particular badges
oar armor.
124. Military dresB, When the Mexicans went to
battle, they wore only a coarse white habit; and no
person was entitled to change this plain dress for one
more costlv, without having given proofs of bravery.
The king, oesides his armor, wore on his lege a kind
of half boots, made of fhinjuiUes of gold ; on his arms
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M ~ HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATE*
plates of the same, and bracelets of gems ; at his under
lip, hung an emerald set in gold ; at his ears, he wore
ear-rings of the same stone ; about his neck, a necklace
or chain of gold ; and a plume of beautiful fethers oa
his head; together with a splendid badge, consistinjg
of a wreath of fethers, reaching from his head down his
back. The common soldiers wore only a girdle round
the waist, but painted their bodies.
125. The defensive arms of the Mexicans. The,
defensive armor of the Mexicans consisted in shields
made in different forms and of various materials. Some
were wholly round; others on one side only. Some
were made of solid elastic canes, interwove with cotton
threads, and covered with fethers. The shields of the
nobles were made of thin plates of gold, or tortoise
shells, adorned with gold, silver, or copper. Some
were made so as to be folded and carried under the arms,
like an umbrella. The officers had breastplates of cotton^
very thick, and proof against arrows. They also covered
the chest, the inighs, and half of the arms, and wore a
case over the head, in shape of the head of a tiger or
serpent, which gave them a frightful appearance.
126. Offensive arms. The weapons of war amon^>
the Mexicans were arrows, slings, chibs, spears, pikes,
swords, and darts. Their dows were made of a strong,
elastic woocL and the string, of the sinews of animals,
or the hair ot the stag. Their arrows were pointed with
a sharp bone, or piece of flint. They never used poi-
soned arrows. Their sword was a stout stick, three
feet and a half Ion;?, and four inches broad, armed with
a sort of sharp knife of stone, firmly fastened to it with
gum lac. With this, a horse might be beheaded at a
single stroke. Their pikes^ some of wliich were eighteen
feet long, were pointed with flint or copper. The dart
was a small lance of wood, hardened in the fire or shod
with copper. To this was tied a string, for pulling it
back after it was thrown.
127. Manner of making war. It was a laudable
custom vdth the Mexicans, before a declaration of war^
to send embassadors to the enemy, for the purpose or
dissuading from hostilities. By representing and en-
▲MEIUCA. 55
/((urcin^, in powerful languac^e, the miseries of war, they
Aometjines effected a reconciliation and preserved peace.
In battle, it was less their desire to kill their enemies,
than to take them prisoners, for the purpose of sacrifice.
JSach nation had its ensign ; that of Mexico was an
eagle darting upon a tiger ; that of Tlascala, an eagle
with its wings spread. Their martial music consisted
of drums, horns, and sea shells. For fortifications, they
used palisades, d*itches, walls, and ramparts of earth or
stone.
- 128. AgrictUture and gardening. The principal
article cultivated for food by the Mexicans, was maiz,
^r Indian com ; an invaluable grain, first found in
• America. They had nei^er plows, oxen, nor horses,
to prepare the ground for planting ; but a hoe, made of
copper. They planted maiz in the manner now prac-
ticed in OUT country. They made great use of rivulets
for watering their lands, conducting the water by canals
ifrom the huls. They cultivated gardens to great per-
fection, and from tnem supplied Mexico with great
abundance of plants, fruits, and flowers. By means of
twisted willows and roots, they made a substratum,
which, being covered with earth, constituted floating
gardens on the lakes, which were a great curiosity.
129. Mexican money. The Mexicans used the fol-
lowing articles as money ; a species of cocoa, a niece
of which represented a certain number ; or if a larffe
sum was used, it passed in sacks, each being of a certain
value ; small pieces of cotton ; gold dust in goose quills :
]>ieces of copper in the form of a T ; and thin pieces of
tin ; all of which had their particular value and use.
130. Mexican language. The Mexicans had no
knowledge of letters; and their language contained the
sounds of twenty of our letters only ; but it was copious
and very expressive. Almost all words had the accent
on the last syllable except one. In the place of letters
and words, the Mexicans used, for recording events,
paintings, which by means of perfect system and regu-
larity of figures and positions, represented facts with
great certamty. These historical paintings were pre-
*«ved with great care by the Mexicans ; and such "^
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9i HISTORY or TUS UNITED tTATEt.
them as escaped destroctiott, at the time of theooi^esl
by the Spaniards, are the sources from which the history
of that country is derired. But the Spaniards, ignoremt
of their use, and at first supposing tliem to be applied
to idolatrous purposes, destroyed, with frantic zcml, all
they could find.
131. Cloth and paper. The materials used by the
Mexicans for paintmg, were cloth made of the tfaareada
of the aloe, or the palzn, dressed skins, and piM^* The
paper was made ot the leaves of a species of the adoe.
steeped together like hemp or fiax, then washed, stretchej
and smoothed. It was as thick as pasteboard, but softer,
smoother, and easy to receive impressions. In ^neral,
the sheets were long, and rolled up for preservation, like
the parchments of the ancients m Europe and' Asia,
The colors used in painting were obtainea from pluita
and flowers, and were exqmsitely beautiful.
132. Scxdpture and casting of metala, Althoneh
the Mexicans had not the use or iron or steel, yet by
means of flint stone, they carved images in stone and
wood, with great exactness. The images of their gods
were numberless. But the casting of precious metals
into curious figures, was an art in which the Mexicans
excelled most nations which were more advance in
civilization. The founders made the figure of a fish,
with the scales alternately one of sold and the other or
silver; a parrot, with a movable head, ton^e, and wings;
an ape, with a movable head and feet, with a spindle in
its paw. in the act of spinning : and so exquisite was
the work of some of these figures, that the Spaniards^
fond as they were of the gold, valued the workmansh^
more than the metal.
133. Mexican stage. The stage among the Mexicans
was a square terrace raised and uncovered, or the lower *
area of some temple. Here actors display^ their comic
powers in representing various characters and scenes in
life. Some feigned themselves deaf, sick, lame, blind,
or crippled, and addressed an idol for the return of health.
Some mimicked animals, or ^peered under their names,
disguised in the form of toads, beetles, or lizards. These
coarse representations were the dramatic amtnements
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AMERICA.
67
of the Mexicans, which concluded with a grand dance
of Ae spectators.
134. manufactures. The Mexicans had no wool,
silk, hemp, or flax ; but cotton, fethers, hair, mountain
palm, and aloes, supplied their place. Of fethers, inter-
wove with cotton, were formed mantles, gowns, carpets,
and bed curtains. Waistcoats for the nobles, and other
ffarments, were made of cotton, interwove witn the finest
hair from the belly of the rabbit. The leaves of the
maguay furnished a fine thread, equal to that of flax ;
and the palm supplied that which was coarser. These
were prepared for use. nearly in the n^anner we prepare
flax and hemp. Of tnese plants also were made mats^
ropes, shoes, and many other articles of common use.
MEXICAN WOMEN BAKING BREAD.
135. Food. The principal plant cultivated for food
was maiz ; but cocoa, chia, and beans, were also used.
Bread was made of maiz in this manner : The grain
was first boiled with a little lime ; when soft, it was
rubbed between the hands, which took off the skin, then
pounded into a paste and baked in a pan. The nobles
jouxed some fragrant herbs with their bread to give it ?
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68 BI8T0RY OF THE UVITED STATES.
flaror. Cookery was the busmess of the women. The
Mexicans not having cattle or sheep^ reared and used
vast numbers of fowls, and small anmials ; as tuj^es^
emails, geese, ducks, deer, rabbits, and fish. Their
drinks were oeyerages maae by fermentation from the
juice of the maguay, or aloe, the palm, the stem of maia;
and the like.
136. Dress and ornaments. In the climate of l^exico
very little clothing was necessary. The poor wore a
girale ; and the higher classes, a girdle, and a mantle
or cloak over the shoulders, about &ur feet long, |uid in
wint^ a waistcoat. The shoe was of lether or coarse
cloth, under the foot tied with strings round the ankle.
The Mexicans wore their hair long, thinking it dishon-
orable ip be shaved. For ornaments, they wore ear-
rings, pendants at the under lip, or the nose ; bracelets
on the arms, and rings like a collar on the legs. The
rich used pearls, emeralds, and other gems set in ^old ;
and the poor used shells, crystals, or some shming
stones.
137. Furniture of the houses. The beds of the
Mexicans did- not accord with the finery of their dress.
Their beds were two coarse mats of rashes, to which
the rich added fine palm mats and sheets of cotton.
The cover of the bed was a mantle, or a counterpane
of cotton and fethers. The table was a mat spread on
the ground; and naf^ns were used, as were plates,
porringers, earthem pots and jugs, but no knives nor
forks. For chairs, were used low seats pf wood, and
rushes or palm, and reeds. The shell of a fruit like . a
gourd, furnished cups. The Mexicans used no wax,
tallow, or oil, for lignts, but torches of Wood, like pine
knots. Tobacco was much used for smoking and^in
snpff. Insteari pf soap, were us«d the fruit and root of
a particular tree.
138. Amusements. The Mexicans had no stringed
instruments ; but for music, made use of horns, shells,
and little pipes or flutes. They had also a kind of drum,
which was a cylinder of wood, covered with a deer skin,
well dressed and stretched, whicb they slackened or
tightened. They liad also a piece of wood, cylindrical
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AMERICA. Sli
and hollow, in which were two opemiigs lengthwise ;
this was beat with two little sticks, whose ends were
covered with elastic gum, to soften the soond. These
instruments were accompanied with singing ; but their
Yoices were harsh and oifensire to European ears.
MEXICAN MUSICIANS.
139. Dances. The dances of tlie Mexicans were
very graceful. They were of various kinds ; sometimes
in circles ; sometimes in ranks ; some dances were
performed by men only, others by females. On such
occasions, the nobles were dressed in their most pompous
attire; adorned with bracelets, ear-rings, and various
pendants of gold and jewels, and with various plumes.
The little dance waadjerformed for the amusement of
the nobles, or in tenl^les for devotion, or in, private
houses. Tliis was jjerfomied by a few persons, who
arranged themselves in parallel lines, with their faces
directed sometimes one way, sometimes another, and
they occasionally crossed and intermingled with each
other.
140. Gi'ecU dance. The great dance was performed
in a large open space of ground, or in the area o^
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•0 HI8T0RT OF THE OKITED STATES.
temple. Hundreds of persons sometimes joined in it^
with the music placed in the center of the area. The
lords were arranged in two or three circles, near the
center ; at a distance, other circles were comt)osed of
persons of inferior rank, and the exterior circles were
composed of young persons. All the dancers moved in
circles; those near the center moved slowly; those
more distant moved more briskly, so that all the circles
moved round in the same time.
141. Games and feats. The Mexicans had various
games for public occasions, or for relaxation and amuse>
ment. One of these was the race, in which they were
exercised from their childhood. They had also military
games, in which the warriors represented a pitched
battle. One of the most singular of their amusements
was an exhibition of the flyers, used in certain creat
festivals. The manner is this. The stem of a lofty
tree, stripped of its bark and branches, is fixed- in the
center ot a square, with the end inserted in a woodea
cylinder. From this hung four ropes, supporting a
square frame, like a ship's main top. Between the
cylinder and the frame were fixed four other ropes^
which were twisted round the timber as many times as
there were revolutions to be made. These were drawn
through holes in the frame.
142. Manner ofjlying. The four principal flyers,
disguised as eagles, herons, or other fowls, mounted the
tree by means of a rope laced about it, tied the ropes
round their bodies, and lanched from the frame with a
spring, and began their flight with wings expanded.
Their action put the frame and cylinder in motion ; the
frame, by turning, untwisted the ropes by which the
flyers swun^ ; and the lengthenii^of the ropes enlarged
the circle of the flyers, and lowAd them to the earth.
While this process was going on, a man stood and
danced on the top of the tmiber, beating a little drum
or waving a flag.
143. Other games. The Mexicans were very fond
of playing with a ball of three or four inches diameter,
made of elastic gum. They played in parlies, two
against two, or three against three ; all nak^d except a
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
AMEftlCA.
61
bandage round their middle. It. was a rule of the game,
not to touch the ball, except with the joint of the thigh,
or the arm, or elbow. The player who caused the ball
to reach the opposite wall, or made it rebound from it,
gained a point.
Another play was, to place a beam upon the shoulders
of two dancers, while a person danced on the top of it.
They also danced, one man on the shoulders of ano"
ther, and a third, dancing on Ma head, and displaying
great agility.
MEXICAN FEATS.
Such was the state of society in Mexico, when the
Spaniards invaded and conquered the country in the
year 1621.
144. Other l^ianMmtions in North America. The
tribes of nativ^ whroh were spread over the more
northern regions of America, were far less advanced in
knowledge, arts, and civility, than the Mexicans. They
all cultivated maiz and beans, which constituted no
small part of their food. Com and beans boiled together
when green, they called suckotcuih ; a dish held in great
esteem by tneir conquerors, and much used by us at this
6
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03
lll^ionv OF THE UNITED STATES.
day. But the cultivation of the earth was whollv per-
foimecl by the women. The men were occnpied in
war, or in hunting or fishing, which supplied them with
the flesh of deer, bears, beavers, moose, raccoon, and
the like. They had no drink but water.
INDIANS ROASTING FISH.
146( Habtlations and furniture: The dwellings of
the savages were huts called wigwams, made With poles
fixed in the ground, bent together, fastened at the top,
and covered with m^s of bulrushes. The fire was m
the middle of the hut, and an opening was left at the
top for the smoke to escape. Their beds were mats or
skins spread on boards a little raised. For cooking,
they used pots made of clay j their dishes and spoons
were of wood, hollowed and ma^ very smooth. Pails
were formed of birch bark, made square, and furnished
with a handle. Baskets w^cre made of the same material,
or of rushes, bents, husks of the maiz, silk grass, or wild
hemp, curiously wrought and ornamented.
146. Dress, The natives of the northern parts of
America had no clothing, when the English firet came
among them, except the skias of wild beasts, and a few'
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AMERICA. 03
mantles made of fethers curiously interworen. But all
the natives of this country were very fond of beads and
trinkets, for ornaments ; fastening them to. their arms,
legs, nose, and ears. When the Europeans began to
trade with them, they exchanged their skms for blankets,
and other cloths, and these are their principal dress to
this day. All savage nations are very fond of fethers.
INDIANS IN WINTER DRE3S.
147. Money and arms. The money of the northern
Indians consisted in the wampumpeague, usually called
ipamptcm, which was made of small shells curiously
joined, and wrought into broad strings or belts. This
was the medium of commerce, answerjag the purpose
of silver and gold among other nations. The arms of
the savages were boWS and arrows, clubs, and especially
the hatchet, called a tomahawk, which was a sharpened
stone, with a handle. After the arrival of Europeans,
they laid aside the stone, and procured iron hatchets.
They throw these with astonishing dexterity, and are
sure of bitting the object intended at a great distance.
They had no defensive armor, except a kind of shield
njade of bark-
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64 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
148. Canoes. All uncivilized nations make use of
canoes, formed of bark or the trunks of trees made hollow.
These are of various sizes, from ten feet in length to a
hundred. To save labor, the Indians apply fire to the
trunk of a large tree and bum it hollow ; tnen finish the
canoe< by scraping and cutting. When bark is used^ it
is molded into a suitable shape, strengthened with nbs
of wood, sewed with strings or threads of strong bark,
and the seams smeared over with turpentine. The
bark canoes are so light, that they are often carried by
the Indians from river to river, or round falls and over
necks of land.
149. Virtues and vices. The good and bad qualities
of Indians are few, or congned to a few objects. In
general, a savage is governed by his ^ssions, without
much restraint from the authority of his chiefs. He is
remarkably hospitable to strangers, ofi*ering them the
best accommodations he has, and always serving them
first. He never forgets a favor or an injury ; but will
make a grateful return for a favor, and revenge an iniury,
whenever an opportunity offers, as long as he lives;
and the remembrance is hereditary ; for the child and
grandchild have the same passions, and will repay a
kindness or revenge a wrong done to their ancestor.
150. Government and religion. The tribes of Indians
were under a government somewhat like a monarchy,
with a mixture of aristocracy. Their chiefs, called
sagamores, sachems, or cazekes, ppssessed the powers
of government ; but they usually consulted the old men
of the tribe on all important questions.
Their religion was idolatry, for they worshipped the
sun, the moon, the earth, fire, image*, and the like.
They had an idea of the Supreme Being, whom they
called the Cfreat Spirit /and they believed in an evil
spirit. They had priests, called pov>ows, who pretended
to arts of conjuration and who acted as their physicians.
QUESTIONS.
97. By whom and when was America first peopled 1
98, 99. Manner of settlement of America 1
100. "When was Mexico x^copled 1
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AMERICA. 05
101. Condition of the aboriginab?
102. Whrt U Iho climate of Mexico 1
103. When was the city, of Mexico founded 7 Wha^ was
its Edte 1
104. What were the buildinga of the Mexicans 7
105. What was the religion of the Mexicans 1
106. What were the Mexican modes of worship 1
107. What were the Mexican traditions respecting the
deluge?
UW. Describe the Mexican priests.
1(^. How did the Mexicans divide the year 1
110. 'Wliat ceremonies were used at the birth of a child 1
ill. What were the marriage ceremonies?
113. What were the funeral rites 1
113. How were the Mexican youth educated 1
114. What pu.iishments were iriAist^d on the vire« of youth 1
11.5. Wh^t fwm of government had the 7tlcxicut)s 1
116. What ranks exii^od among the ^fcxicans 1
117, 118. How were lands divided and hold in Mexico?
119. What were the revenues of Mexico 1
120. Uo;v was justice administered 1
121. 122. Wliat were tlie laws, crknes, and punishments?
123. What was the opinion of the Mexicans respecting war ?
and how were warriors rewardal ?
124. What was the military dross ?
125. What (lyfcn.^ive arms were used ?
126. What o/lVrisive arms were used 1
127. What was the manner of making war ?
128. What was the state of agriculture and gardening ?
129. Wli.'.t money was used in America ?
130. What wa.s the language of Mexico ? What did th«
Mexicans use fqr recording events 1
131. What were tho material^ of cloth and paper ?
132. What was the state of sculpture and castings ?
133. What was the Mexican stage or theater ?
134. What were the manufactures ?
135. "What was the food of the Mexicans?
136. What were tlio dress and ornaments of the Mexicans ?
137. What was the furniture of the houses ?
138. What were the amusements of the Mexicans ?
139. 140. Describe the dances of the Mexicans.
141. What were the games and feats of the Mexicans ^
142. Describe the flyers.
143. What other games were used ?
144. Describe the Indians of Nortl^ America.
145. What were their habitations ?
6*
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140.' Wlut wu the drets of the Imliant 1
147. What were their money ami armal
148. What sort of canoes did the Indiana use 1
149. What were the virtues and vices of the Indians 1
160. What were the govenimont and religion 1
CHAPTER V.
DISCOTERT OF AMERICA.
151. Of Columbua. Christopher Columbus, the first
European who discovered the western continent^was a
native of Genoa, and was bred to navigation. By his
knowledge of the form of the earth, and of geogmphy
and astronomy, and by some pieces of carved wood and
a canoe, driven on shore by westerly winds, he w^ led
to believe that there mast be a continent on the west
of the Atlantic to balance the vast tract of land on the
east; and he imagined that by sailing westward, h^
might find a shorter course to China and the East
Indies, than by traveling eastward. He therefore ap-
plied to the government of Genoa for assistance to
enable him to imdertake a voyage of discovery. He
did not succeed. He then applied to Portugal, but with
j^o better success. He was thought, as mez; of gei^ius
are often thought, a visionary projector.
162. Colunums^a application to Spain, Ooluinbus
then made application to Ferdinand, king of Spain, for
ships and men to proceed on a voyage westward ; but
for some vears, he did not obtain his request. Finally,
by the ipuuence of the queen, Isabella, he obtained three
snips and ninety men. He also obtained a commbsion,
dated April 30, 1492, constituting him admiral, viceroy,
and governor, of all the isles and countries whioh he
should discover and subdue, with full powers civil and
criminal. With this authority, he sailed frpm Pdos,
in Spain, in August, 1492.
153. Pirat voyage. Not many days after Columbus
left Spain, he ^as perplexed with the variations of the
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DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 67
magnetic needle, which had not before been discbyered,
and which served to dishearten his mariners. To ada
to his peiplexity, his seamen grew uneasy at venturing
so Far mto an unen)lored ocean, and threatened to throw
him overboard, if he would not return. To quiet their
minds, he promised that if land should not appear within
three days, he would return. On the third day, land
was discovered, to the inexpressible joy of Columbus
and of his seamen, who now humbled themselves for
their re&actory conduct The limd first seen was one
of the Bahama islands, and on the 12th of October, O. S.
149S5.
154 Discover^/ and settlement of Hispaniofa, Pro-
peeding southward, Columbus discovered Cuba and
Hay ti ; to the latter he ^ve the name of Hispaniola.
Here he landed, entered mto a friendly intercourse with
the natives, built a fort, in which he left a garrison of
thirty-eight men, with orders to treat the natives with
jkindness, and sailed for Europe. On his vovage, a
violent tempest arising, Columbus was apprenensive
the ship would founder ; and to afford a small chance
that the world should not lose the benefit of his voyage,
he wrote a short accoimt of his discoveries, wrapped it
in an oiled cloth, inclosed it in a cake of wax, and put-
ting this into an empty cask, he committed it to the sea,
in hopes that it might fall into the hands of some fortu-^
nate navigator, or be cast ashore. But the stoim abated,
and Columbus arrived safe in Spain.
155. Second voyage of Columbus, In September,
1493, Columbus sailed from Cadiz on his second voyage
to the new worldj and discovered the Caribbee isles, to
which he gave their present names, Dominico, Mara-
galant, Guadaloupe. Montserrat, and Antigua. Then
steering for Cuba, ne saw Jamaica, and proceeded to
Hispaniola. On nis arrival, he found that <he men
whom he had left in garrison had been guilty of violence
and rapine, and were all destroyed by the natives.
156. First 'permanent settlement in America^ As
the first colony which Columbus left was cut off, he
sought a more convenient and healthful situatiop, marked
out the plan of a town, erected a rampart, and b» * *
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68 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
louses. This town he called Isabella, in honor of tha
qqeen, his benefactress. T he goyemmcnt of this colony
he committed to his brother, Don Diego, who^ after
Columbus had departed for Europe, abandoned this spot,
i^nd removing to the south side of the isle, began the
iown palled St. Domingo, the first permanent establish-
ment in the new ^orld. Columbus returned to Spain
early in 1496;
157. Columbu8^8 third voyage. In May, 1498, Co-
lumbus left Spain on his third voyage, and proceeding
farther southward, discovered and named Trinidad;
and in August, discovered the main land, or continent
of South America, along which he coastea two hundred
leagues westward ; then sailed to Hispaniola. When
he arrived at St. Domingo, he found the colony in a
mutinous state j but by prudent and firm measures, he
composed the troubles. In the mean time, the discon-
tented men repaired to Spain, and by false representa-
tions, persuaded the king to appoint Bovadilla governor
of the new world, with orders to take Columbus and
send him to Spain. This commission was executed
with inhuman severity, and the ^reat Columbus was
sent to Spain in chains. Such is the reward which
great and good men receive from vile factious men.
158. Name given to this continent. In 149D, Alonso
Ojedo made a voyage to the western continent. With
him was one Amerigo, or Americus Vespucius, a native
of Florence, who wrote an account of the voyage, and
pretending that he was the first discoverer of the main
Und, the country was called after him, America ; which
ham^, by the consent of nations, it has retained ; to the
injury of Cabot and Columbus, who had discovered the
contii^ent the preceding year.
159. Columbus^s fourth voyage. Columbus arrived
in Spain bound like a criminal ; but was soon set at
liberty by order of the king, to whom he justified his
conduct i^ the most satisfactory manner. But he did
not recover his authority, and Ovando was appointed
governor of Hispaniola, in the place of Bovadilla. Co-
lumbus, however, prepared for a fourth voyage in 1502;
intent upon finding a passage to the §ast Indies by the
J*^7V7V IV^
DISCOVERY OF AMSRIOA. -01^
\rest. Id this voyage, he entered the gulf of Darieli,
and examined the coast. But meeti]^ with foriooa
stonns, he hore away for Hispaniola, and was shq^
wrecked on Jamaica.
160. Fate of Columbus. Bein^ cast on an isle, at i
distance of thirty leagues from Hispaniola, and hif
ships all destroyed, CoTumhus was in extreme distress.
But the natives were kind, and furnished him with twc
canoes, in which two of his friends with some Indiai. ■
rowed themselves to St. Domingo. But the govemo.
Ovado, meanly jealous of Columhus. delayed to send a
single ship to hring him ofi^ for eignt months, during
which time, Columhus was exposed to famine, to the
natives, and to the malice of Ms own mutinous seamen.
At last he was relieved, and furnished with two ships,
with which he sailed for Spain in 1504. Finding Isa-
bella, his patroness, dead ; and himself neglectal he
sunk under his infirmities, and died May S^, 150^ in
the 59th year of his age.
161. Pope^a grant to Spain. The king of Spain, t
obtain a secure title to the new world, obtained froc
pK>pe Alexander the sixth, a bull, or patent, dated a
Rome, May 4th, 1493, in which the objects of the gran
are said to be, to hmnanize and Christianize the savag
nations of the new world. By this charter, the kin{
of Spain was invested with sovereign jurisdiction ove
all the isles and lands which had been or should b
discovered, west of a line running from i)ole to pc^ a
the distance of one hundred leases west of all the
Azores, and the Cape de Verd islands ; to be held bv
him, his heirs and success(N*s forever ; excepting such
isles and countries as were then actually possessed by
some Christian king or prince.
162. Progress of the Spanish discoveries and settle-
wents. In the year 1500, one Pinzon, who had accom-
panied Columbus in his first voyage, sailed to America,
<;rossed the equinoctial line, and discovered the Marancm,
or Amazon, the largest river on the elobe. In the same
year, one Cabral, a Portuguese, pushed his adventures
furtlier south, and discovered the country now called
Prazil. Pinzon made a second voyage m 1508, vdth
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70 HISTORY OP THE DNITED STATES.
Soils, and proceeded as far south as the river which
they called the river of Plata, or silver. In 1509, two
adventurers, Ojedo and Nicuessa, attempted to form
settlements on the continent, within the gulf of Darien,
but were repelled by the natives. In the followiiig
years, settlements were begun at Jamaica, Porto Rico,
Darien, and Cuba.
163. Discovery of Florida and of the South Sea. In
1512. John Ponce, who had subdued Porto Rico, fitted
out tnree ships, and ssuling northward fell in witli land
in the 90th degree of latitude, which he took i)ossession
of and called Florida. In the following year, one Bal-
boa, ascended the mountains of Darien, the narrow
isthmus which connects North with South America,
and espied the great South Sea^ now called the Pacific
Ocean. Delignted with this discovery, he proceeded
to the water's edge, and wading in till the water reached
his waist, armed with his buckler and sword, he took
possession of the ocean in the name of his king.
BALBOA TAKING POSSESSION OF THE PACinC OpEAZ^,
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DISCOVEHY OP AMERICA. ^i
,. i64. Discoveries in the Gvlf of Mexico. In I6I7.
Cordova sailed from Cuba, discovered the great penin-
sula of Yucatan, and the bay of Campeachv. But
landing at the mouth of a river to procure fresn water,
s^ considerable part of his men were killed, and he was
forced to return to Cuba, where he soon died; The
hext year, a more coasiderable force, under Grijalva;
visited the same bay, and encountering the natives,
defeated them not without difficulty. To this country
Grijalva gave the name of New Spain, which name it
still heaps ; as well as that of Mexico, tiie name of the
country among the natives. This expedition returned
to St. Jago without attempting a settlement. In the
same year, one Gsuray coasted along the northern shore
of the Gulf of Mexico, to the river Panuco.
165. The conquest of Mexico. In 1519, Velasquez,
governor of Cuba, fitted out an armament of eleven
small vessels, and six hundred and seventeen men,
under the command of Fernando Cortez, for the inva-
sion of Mexico. As fire arms were not generally in
use, only thirteen men had muskets; the rest being
armed with cross bows, swords and spears. Cortez
had, however, ten smp.ll field pieces, and sixteen horses,
the first of these animals ever seen in that country;
With this small force, Cortez landed at MexicSo, to en-
counter one of the most powerful empires. After many
negotiations, alliances, marches and counter marches,
many battles and extreme hardships, Cortez subdued
the Mexican empire, then under the government of the
brave, the hospitable, but unfortunate Monte2^uma, and
entered the city of Mexico in triumph, on the 13th of
August, 1521.
168. Meayis hy which Cortez entered Mexico. It is
a most instructive lesson which the fall of Mexico is
calculated to teach. Cortez could not have made any
impression on that great empire, containing many
millions of people, had he not availed himself of the
factions amonff the difierent provinces of the empire.
But no sooner had he arrived than o^e of the naUons
which paid tribute to Montezuma^ and was impatient to
shake off the yoke, offered to join him. These were
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72 mSTORT OF THE ONITBD STATES.
die Totonacas, who first assisted the SpaDiards to con-
quer Mexico, and then were subdued in turn. Thus
nations are often ruined by their own divisions ; fool-
ishly imagining to lessen the burdens of government,
they rer^t a^unst their own king or state, join the
invaders of their country, who first conquer their foes^
and dien rivet shackles on their aUies,
167. FirH voyage round the globe. While Cortez
was conquering Mexico, Magellan, a distinguished
navigator, who had served under the famous Portu-
guese adventurer, Albiurquerk, fitted out five small ships,
a^d sailed from Spain in August, 1619, in search of a
passage to India by the west. Proceeding southward
along the American coast, he entered the strait which
now Dears his name, doubled the southern point of this
(^ntinent, lancihed into the vast ocean, which he called
^e Pacific^ touched at the Ladrones, and after enduring
eztr^e distress from bad provisions and sickness, arri^
ved at the Philippines, where a contest with the natives
arose, in which he lost his life. But his officers proceed"
ed on iheir voyage^ passed the Cape of Grood Hope,
vak arrived in Spam in September, 1522. This was
the fost time that any mortal had sailed round the
globe.
168. Discovery of Peru, After Balboa had discov-
ered the South Sea, a settlement was made on the
western side of Darien. called Panama* From this
tctwn, several attempts nad been made to es^plore the
southern continent, but without any remarkable occur-
irence. In 1524, tnree persons, Pizarro, Almagro and
de Luque associated for the purpose of extending their
adventures and discoveries. Their first expedition was
attended with ill success. Pizarro, however, in a second
attenmt, sailed as far as Peru, and discovered that rich
and nourishing country. Pleased with the discovery^
he returned to Panama, and was sent by the governor
to Spain for a commission, and a military force to sup-
port an expedition and insure success.
169. Conquest of Peru, Pizarro obtained a commis-
•ion and a small force, and returned to Panama ; from
whence tiiey sailed in February, 1631, to attempt the
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DISCOVERT OP AMERtetl tt
feonquest of one of the finest kingdoms in America^with
no more than one hmidred and eighty men. i^ith
these, and a small re-enforcement, he marched to the
residence of the king, and having invited him to a
friendly interview, in which he attempted to persuade
him to adopt the Christian religion, he, with matchless
berfidy. seized the monarch a prisoner, and oiNderinc
nis soldiers to slay his misuspectilig and astonish^
attendants, four thousand were sladn without riBsistancei
17a Progress of Pizarrp. The Peruvian monarcB,
Atahualpa, was no sooner a prisoner, than he devis^
the means of procuring his release. Finding the Span- -
iards excessively eager for gold, he oflTered to fill thi
apartment in which he was confined, which wa« twenty
two feet by sixteen, with vessels of gold aild,-3i^er, af
hiffh as he could reach, this offer was acc^ted^ ^Si
giild was collected fix)m distant parts of die empit^,
until the treasuns amounted to more tt^ the iSmm of
two bullions of dollars, which was divided among thij
fcon^uerors. But tlie perfidious P^arro- tvould notthen
release the Inca ; he s^ill kept hiin a prisoner ; anct
Almapo having joined him with a re-enft^emen^ they
brought the Inca to a trial before a coutt ^ected for thd
occasion ; charged him with being ail ust}r|>er and all
idolater, condemned and executed him. The Peruvian
government being destroyed, all parts of the empire
were successively subdued.
171. State of Peru when conquered. The Spaniards ♦
found the Peruvians farther advanced towards civiliza-
tion, than any American natioti, isxcept the Mexicahs j
and in some respects, farther than that nation. About
three hundred years before the invasion of the Span*
iards, a man and Wbbian of superior genius arrived in
that country, who, pretending to be descended from the
sun, cO£ti*manded an uncommon degree of veneratioii.
The man, whose name was Manco Capac, collected
the wandering trills into a social union, instructed thetn
in the useful arts, curbed their passions, enacted salu-
tary laws, made a judicious distribution of lands, and
directed them to be tilled ; in short, he laid the founda-
tion of a great and prosperous empire. Mama Ocello^
ly VJ\.7\^VI\^
74 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
the woman, taught the arts of spinning and weaving.
Manco Capac was called Inca, or Lord, and his de-
scendants ffovemed this happy nation for twelve gene-
rations, fiy the laws of this empire, human sacrifices
were forhid, and the general policy of its institutions
was mild.
172. Causes of the ruin of Peru, Just before the
Spaniards landed in Peru, that kingdom had been torn
with factions and civil war. Huana Capac, the twelfth
in descent from Manco, had two sons ; one by a wife of
the royal blood of the Incas, called Huascar j another
named Atahualpa, by a woman of foreign blood* He
appointed the latter ms successor in the government of
Quito, which disgusted the lawful heir, Huascar. This
produced .a war in which Atahualpa triumphed ; Huas-
car wa^ defeated, and taken prisoner. In this situation
was the kingdom of Peru, when the Spaniards arrived.
Thus weakened by internal divisions, it fell an easy
pray to the invaders. Such are the deplorable effects
of iaetions and dissensions, which usually begin in th»
lawless ambition of bold, daring men, and end in public
misery!
173. Pirst expedition on the MaranorL* In the year
1540, Gonzalo, a brother of Pizarro, and governor of
duito, crossed the Andes with a bodjr of troops, and a
great number of Indians to carry their provisions, with
a view to make discoveries. Alter a long march amidst
precipices, rocks, thick woods and morasses, they arrived
* at a large river, called Napo, which is one of the head
branches of' the Maranon. Here they built a small
vessel, on board -of which were transported the pro-
visions and baggage, under the command of Orellana,
with fifty men, while the rest marched along the bank.
But Oreilana betrayed his trust, and being wafted along
tiie stream with rapidity, he left Gk)nzalo and his attend-
ants 5 entered the vast river Maranon, and pursuing
his course to the mouth, a distance of four or ny^ thou-
sand miles, he had the good fortune to reach the Spanish
settlement at Cubaqua in safety. This was the firsi
* ImpropMly «ftllsd Amason.
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DISCOVERT OF AMERICA. 75
time that any European had explored the largest riyec
on earth, and one of the boldest enterprises recorded.
Gonzalo, confounded at the treachery of Orellana, was
obliged to return to duito, distant twelve hundred miles,
in which journey, four thousand Indians and two
hundred and ten Spaniards perished with famine and
fatigue.
174. Fate of Pizarro and Almagro. Mankind are
seldom contented even with the splendor of power and
riches. The conqueiprs of Peru soon hemn. to be jea-
lous of each other, g^4 to contend for dommion. Each
haWng the government of a certain district of country,
but the limits not well known, a civil war commenced,
in which AJmagrp "^as defeated and taken prisoner ;
tried, condemned and executed. His son Almagro,
though young, sesolved to avenge his father's wron^
and collecting a body of firm adherents, he privately
marched to the house of Pizarro, attacked him at midday,
and slew him and his attendants. Such was the fate of
these bold, but inhuman conc^erors, and such the reward
of their cruelty, avarice and perfidy I
QUESTIONS.
151. Who discovered America 1 What led Columbus to
suppose the existence of a continent west of Europe 1
151, 152. To what courts did Columbus apply fi>r assislanoel
and what was his success 1
15% 153. When did Columbus first sail, and what difficul-
ties did he encounter %
153. 151. When was the first land discovered, and what
isle?
154. What lands did Columbus next discover and settle 1
Being exposed tti^dl^er on hts return to Europe, what plan
did Columbus form to insure bis discoveries firom being lost 1
155. What discoveries did Columbus make in his second
voyage 1
156. When and wfaere was made the first permanent settle-
ment in America 1
157. What discoveries did Columbus make in his third
voyage 1 What treatment did COlumbus receive firom his ene-
niieal
153. Fro::, whom did tliw continent receive its nftmel
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78 BISTORT OF THE 17NITBD STATES.
159. What diflooveries did Cohnnbos make in his ^nirth
voyagel
160. What was the fate of Columbus 1
l€(l. What grant did the king of Spain obtain from the
162. Who discovered the Maranon, or Amazon, the laigesi
^Ter in the world, and when 7 Who discovered Brazil 7
163. Who discovered and named Florida 1 Who discovered
the Pacific Ocean 1
164. Who discovered Yucatan, and New Spain or Mexico 1
165. By whom was Mexico conquered 1
1^ By what means was Mexico conquered 1
167. Who 'firat sailed round the world, and w^at (fiscoveries
weine made in the voyagej
168. Who discovered Peru 7
169. Who conquered Perul How did Pizarro treat the
kincof Perul
170.' By what means did Atahualpa, when a prisoner, attenqpt
to obtain his release 1
171. What was the state of Peru, when conquered, and who
governed itl
}73. What caused the min o^ Peru %
72[. Who crossed the Andes an^ sailed down the Maranon ^
174. What was the fate of P^zanro and Almagrol
CHAPTER VI.
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF NORTa AMERICA.
175. Of Cabot Soon after the new world was dis-
covered by Colunibus, :i spirit of enterprise was excited
in all the commercial nations of Europe. The first
84 venturer from England was John Cabot, a native of
^ VenJce^ residing^ ui Brisiotj who, under a commission
Jrom HeniT VII., sailed on a voyage of discovery. On
24th of June 1494 t>r 5, he discovered land, which
called Priw^ Vista, which in Italian, Kis native
qsge, signify firsi sLg:hi. This land is supposed tq
wfoundiand. He discovered also an isle which
led St, John*Sj on which he landed. His son
lan is understood to hz^ve accompsinied him in
IT-
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DISCOVERY AND OTTTLEMCNT OP N. AMERICA. 77
176. Second voyage. King Henry granted to John
Cabot and his three sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sanc-
tius, a commission dated March 5th, 1496, authorizing
them to discover and take possession of unknown lands,
and to erect his banners on any land by them already
discovered. On the third of February, 1498, he gave
them a license to take ships for this purpose in any port
of the kingdom. In this year, Sebastian Cabot first
discovered the continent, north of the St. Lawrence,
since called Labrador, and coasted along the shore from
the sixty-seventh degree of north latitude to Florida.
He made a chart of Ihe coast, which, for a century, hung
under his picture in Whitehall. He was the first dis-
coverer, of the continent, for he made the laiiu June II,
old style. Whereas, Columbus did not discover the
continent till August 1.
177. Other voynges to North America, Cabot made
a voyage to America, and proceeded south as far as
Brazil, m 1516. One Verrazano was sent by the French
king to make discoveries in 1524, and this man sailed
along the North American coast to the fiftieth degrei
of N. latitude. He named the country New France,
in 1528, Narvaez, a Spaniard, sailed from Cuba, with
four hundred men, to make a settlement in Florida.
He landed and marched into the country of the Apala-
ches; and after traveling over two or three hundred
leagues of country, with incredible fatigue, finding no
gold or silver of any value, harassed by the savages, and
reduced by hunger to the necessity of feeding on human
flesh, most of them perished, and a few survivors only
found their way to Mexico.
178. First attempt to settle Canada. One Cartier,
a Frenchman, sailed to America and entered the bay
of St. Lawrence^ in 1534, with a view to find a north-
west passage to India. He returned to France, but the
next year he pursued the same course, entered tne river,
and penetrated as far as Montreal, where he built a fort
and spent the winter. The next summer, he invited
some of the natives on board of his ship, and treacher-
ously carried them to France, to obtain from them a
more perfect knowledge of the country. But the natives
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78 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
were so much proToked, that the intercourse of tha
French traders with them was much retarded. At this
time a settlement was not effected.
179. First settlement of Acadia. Cartier obtained
from the French kipg, Francis I., a commission for
discovering and planting new countries, dated October
17, 1540. The royal motive assi^ed in the commission
was to introduce among the heathen the knowledge of
the gospel and the Catholic faith. With this authority,
Cartier, in connection with the Baron de RobervaL
Drought two hundred men and women to America and
|l)egan a plantation four leagues above the haven of St.
Croix. This territory was called Acadia by the French ;
but by the English has been called Nova Scotia.
180. Soto's exp€ditix)n in Florida* Ferdinand de
Soto had served under Pizarro in the conouest of Peru,
"^th such reputation as to obtain from the ting of Spain
the government of Cuba, with the rank of general of
Flonda, and marquis of the lands he should conquer.
This enterprising commander collected a body of nine
hundred foot ana three hundred and fifty horse, for an
expedition into Florida, where he landed in. May, 1539.
From the gulf of Mexico he penetrated into the country
horthVard. ai\d wandered about in search of gold, ex-
posed to ramine, hardships, -and the opposition of the
natives. ' He pursued his course north to the country
inhabited by the Chickesaws, where he spent a winter.
He then crossed the Mississippi, being the first European
that had discovered that vast river. After a lon^ march
into the country i.^'^estward, in which Soto died, the
remains of his troops returned to the Mississippi. Here
they built a number of small vessels, in wnich they
^led down the stream, and made the best of their way
to Panuco, in Mexico, where they arrived in September
1543. In this extraordinary expedition, of more than
#(Eir years' duration, in the wilderness, and among hos-
tile savages, more than half the men perished. Such
was the unconquerable desire of gold in the Spaniards
of that age.
181. Settlement of South Carolina by the French,
In 1562, John Riband, a French Protestant, during the
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DISCOV£BY AND SETTLEMENT OF N. AMERICA. 79
chril wars in France, formed a design of making a
settlement in America, as a retreat from persecution.
With two ships of war and a considerable body of forces,
he sailed to America, made land in the thirtieth degree
pf latitude, and not finding a harbor, proceeded northerly,
till he discovered a river, which he called May river,
now Edisto. Near this he built a fort in which he left
a ganison of twenty-six men, and called it Caroline^
returned to France. During the following winter, the
garrison mutincd, assassinated Albert, their commander,
and fearing they should not receive supplies, they em-
barked, in the spring, for Rurope. Being becalmed for.
twenty days, and provisions failing, they appeased their
hunger with human flesh ; at last they were taken up
by an English ship, landed in England, and conducted
to the queen to relate their adventures.
182. Progress of the French settlement. In 1564,
Laudoniere, another Frenchman, carried another colony
and planted them on the same spot. But the Spaniards,
jealous of this settlement, sent a large force, which
destroyed the colony, putting to death old and young,
in the most barbarous manner, a few only escaping to
France. Melandez, the Spanish commander, left there
a garrison of twelve hundred men. One Gourges, a
native of Gascon y, to revenge this outrage, equipped
three ships, landed in 1568, and with the assistance of
the Indians, took the fort, razed it to the ground, and
slew most of the Spaniards. Not being in a situation
to keep possession, the French returned to France, and
both nations abandoned the country.
183. T?i€ ncyages of Frohisher^^ Drake ^cnd Gilbert,
In 1567, captain Frobisher sailed from England for the
purpose of discovering a north-west passage to the East
Indies ; but after penetrating the northern bays, as high
as the sixty-third degree of latitude, the ice compelled
him to desist, and he returned. Sir Francis Drake. cir-
cumnavigated the globe from 1577 to 1580 ; which was
the second voyage round the world. In 1578^ir Hum-
firey Gilbert obtained a patent from queen Elizabeth,
for discovering and taking possession of unknown lands,
which patent was d?ited June 11. The conditions ol
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80 HISTORY or THE UNTTBD iTATES.
the gmnt were, that he and his associates should adhere
to their allegiance, and observe the laws of England,
and pay to the crown a fifth of the gold and silver ore
which they should obtain. His first voyage was made
in 15^. He discovered Newfoundland and the adjoining
country, landed at St. John's, and took possession for
the crown of England; but on his return his ship
foundered, and he was lost.
184. Sir Walter Ralegh's paient. dueen Elizabeth,
by patent dated March 25, 1584, granted to sir Walter
Ralegh authority to discover, occupy;, and govern, "re-
mote, heathen, and barbarous countries," not previously
possessed by any Christian prince or people. Under
this commission^ two ships, commanded by Amidas and
Barlow, arrived m America, in July, 1584. TJiese men
landed at Roanoke, took possession of the country for
the crown of England, and called it Virginia, The
spot where they took possession is now within the limits
of North Carolina. They returned, and giving a flat-
tering account of the country, sir Richard Qrenville
was sent the next year to begin a settlement.
185. First attempts to settle Virginia, The adven-
turers, under sir Richard GrenvilJe, were one hundred
and seven, who fixed their residence on the isle of Ro-
anoke, and weie left there under the command of Mr.
Ltane. These persons, rambling into the country with-
out due caution, or provoking the Indians by their law-
less conduct many were cut off by the aavaies ; others
perished witn-want. The survivors were taken to En^-
Isy^d by sir Ff^||is Drake, the following year, after his
expedition qgapfc the Spaniards, in \diich ne sacked
St. Jago, in tlMTRipe de Verds, pillaged St. Domingo,
took Carthasena, and forced the inhabitants to ransom
it: then tooK and destroyed the fort at St. Augustine in
Florida.
186. Progress of tJ "seitlementsin Virginia, Within
a fortnight after the first colony had departed for Eng-
land, sir Richard Grenville arrived with provisions and
an additional number of adventurers. Not fijiding the
former colony, he left a few people and returned Jto
£ngland. In 1587, a third expedition was prosecuted'
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF N. AMERICA. 81
under Mr. White, with three ships, and pne hundred
and fifteen persons were left at Roanoke. |t was three
years before any supplies were s^nt to maintain Uiis
colony, and when governor White arrived in 1590, no
Englishmen were to be found, and it was evident that
they had perished with hunger, or been slain by the
savages. The last adventurers therefore returned, and
all further attempts to establish a colony in Virginia
were ppstponed .
187\ GosnolcPs voyage to America, In the year
1602. captain Crosnold sailed from England with a
small numbe; pf adventurers, arrived at cape Cod, ai^d
coasting southward^ lan^^d on Cattehunk. the most
southerly of the Elizabeth isles. On ^ small isle, in a
fresh water pond, within the large isle, he built a hu^
and r^tnained ^i it about six weeks. But his men not
being willing to be left there, they all returned and
eflRMed nothing. Crosnold gave cape Cod its name,
from the abundance of cod fish about it. He also namea
the Elizabeth islands, and Martha's Vine^rard. But
the isle which he called Martha's Vineyard is a small
isle near it, now called Noman's land ; the name has
since been transferred to the present isle of that name,
which he called Dover Cliflf, from the resemblance or
the high steep bank, now called Gay Head, to the cliffs
of Dover in Englaxxd.
188. French settlements. The French king, by
letters patent, dated Nov. 8th, 1603, granted to De
Monts, the sole jurisdiction over the counjry called
Acadia^ extending "from the fortiet^iRhe foirty-siMh
degree of latitude," with the title of Mj^^pt general,
with power to appoint officers civil anomilitaiy, tcj^^^ld
forts, towns and the like. Under this patent,' w«are
made the French settlements on the Lawrence and in
Nova Scotia, which afterwards proved the cause and
the scene of wars Between FrarrSe and England, and
the source of innumerable calaiii^ties to the English
colonies, untU the peace of 1763.
189. Voyages of Davis and Weymouth. In 1585,
Capt. John Davis made an attempt to find a north west
passage to India, in which he proceeded to the sixty-
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82 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
seventh degree of latitude, where meeting with fields of
ice, in the strait that bears his name, he returned. The
next year he pursued the same track, and penetrated
Baffin's bay to the eightieth degree of latitude, but re-
turned, having done nothing, but barter a few toys for
seal Mins. In 1005, sir Gteorge Weymouth made a
like attempt, but fell to the southward, coasted along
New England, entered the bay of Pemaquid, but re-
turned without accomplishing any hnportant object,
except carrying to England three natives, who were
afterwards useful to the Plymouth company in their
attempts to settle America.
190. First charter of Virginia. The first grant from
the crown of England, under which eifectual settle-^
ments were made in Virginia- and New England, was
dated April 10, J602. By this charter, king James
assigned to sir Thomas Gates and others, all the lands
in America from the latitude of 34 degrees to 45, all
which was then called Virginia. But by this charter
two companies were constituted. One called the Lon-
don company, and to this were assigned all the lands
between 34 and 41 degrees of latitude, extending inland
one hundred miles from the sea coast, with all the isles
within one hundred miles of the main land. To the
other, called the Plymouth company, were assigned the
lands between 38 and 45 degrees ot latitude, extending
one hundred miles 'u\\o the n^ain land, whh all the isles
within OQe hundred miles. The first traet was called
South Virginia^And the other North Virginia.
191. Seconcf^iurter to the London company. By
charter dated ]!ffl^2d, 1609, king James incorporated
the London company with full powers of government
in America. A council was appointed resident in
England, with powers to appoint the governor and
other officers of the Virginia colony. By this charter,
the boundaries of Virginia were enlarged : ihe OTant
extending from Point Comfort on the north, two liun-
dred miles, and on the south, two hundred miles along
the sea coast, and westward and northwestward into
the main land throughout from sea to jjea, with the isles
within a hundred mile* of the coast.
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DISCOVERV AND SETTLEMENT OP N. AMERICA. 63
192. Settlement of Virginia. Under the authority
of the first patent^ the London company sent Capt.
Newport to Virginia at the close of the year 1606, with
a company of adventurers, Mr. Wingfield being their
president. As the usual course from England to
America, at that time, was by tlie West Indies, New-
port did not arrive till the end of April 1607. Entering
the bay of Chesapeak, he gave name to cape Henry,
sailed into the Powhatati or James river, and began a
plantation, called Jamestown, in which he left 104
persons, and returned to England. The next year he
carried 120 persons to join the colony, with supplies of
provisions.
193. Voyage of sir George Somers, In 1609, sir
George Somers and sir Thomas Gates sailed for Vir-
ginia with a number of ships, and five hundred adven-
turers, consisting of ftien, women and children. Before
they arrived they were overtaken with a tremendous
tempest, and obliged to run one of their ships ashore on
the isle to which the name of Somers was at first given,
but which is now called Bermuda. The isle was unin-
habited, but with such materials as they had saved from
their ship, or found on the spot, they Duilt a small pin-
nace or two^ and after several months residence on
Bermuda, sailed to Virginia. Finding the colony redu-
ced by sickness and want, they resolved to abandon the
country, and actually sailed for England. But the next
day, meeting lord Delaware with fresh supplies, they
all returned, and prosecuted the planting of the country.
In 1611, sir Thomas Dale arrived with 300 additional
settlers, and the colony was established.
194. Third Virginia charter. A third charter was
obtained by the London company, dated March 12,
1612. The chief object of this seems to have. been to
'obtain an enlargement and an alteration of the powers
of the company, as the first governors of the colony
found many of the settlers disobedient and refractory ;
and also to extend the limits of the grant so as to com-
prehend the isle of Bennuda, which by the shipwreck
of sir George Somers, had been explored, and was
deemed an object of magnitude to the company, but
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hi HISTORY OP TBB UNITED STA'^ES.
did not fall within their patent. In the third charter,
the jurisdiction of the company was extended over all
isles within three hundred leagues of the boundary of
the first patent on the ocean, and between 30 ana 41
degrees of latitudie. This included I^ermuda.
195. Attempt ft? settle North Virginia or New Eng-
land. In 1696 the Plymouth company sent Capt; Chai-
lons to make further mscoreries, and oegin a plantation
in America; but steeling southward he was taken by a
Spanish fleet and carried to Spain. A ship under Capt.
t*rihn, arrived, explored the rivers and bays, but not
finding Challons, returned. The next year, Capt. Pop-
ham^ ^ith two ships, and one hundred adventurers,
tSLxne to America, and began a plantation on Monhegah,
an isle near the mouth of Sagadahoc, now called the
Kennebec, in the month of August. But the following
winter proving to be unusually severe, president Pop-
ham dying, and a magazine of their provisions being
burnt, the settlehient was broke up, and the survivors
returned to England.
196. Voyages of Hudson. Henry Hudson, ah Engf-
lishmam probably in the service of the Dutch, sailed m
quest oi a north west passage, in 1607, and penetrated
as far north as to the i?ightifeth degree of latitude. From
him were nahied the strait and great bay at the north of
Labrador, tie made a second voyage the next year, to
th^ same region, without success. In this voyage, it is
supposed he sailed alohg the coast southward, discovered
and gave name to the river which washes New-York
and Albany.
i97. Settlement of New -York. Hudson was in the
service of the Dutch. East India company, or sold his
claims to that company, which obtained a patent for an
exclusive trade on the river Hudson. In pursuance of
which, a number of trading adventurers built a fort at
Albany, in 1612 or 13, and in 1614 on the isle Manha-
does, or Manhattan, now New- York. The country was
called New Netherlands ; the settlement on Manhattan
Was called New Amsterdam ; which names they retain-
ed, till the conquest of the country by the English, in
1664. By icharter, dated June 3, 1^1, an exclusive right
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DISCOVERT AND SETTLBMENT OF N. AMERICA. 85
to trade to America was vested, by the States Gtene>
ral, in the West India company, and the settlement on
Manhattan was prosecuted with success.
198. Newfaundiand. An attempt was made to settled
the large but barren isle, Newfoundland, under a ^rant
of king James to the earl of Northampton and otnerSj
dated April 27, 1610. A small party began a plantation
in the same year ; but the isle is not yet populous, the
climate being cold and the soil not fruitful. The isle is
principally valued as a shelter for the fishermen^ and i.
station for drying cod fish, which are taken m vast
quantities on its banks.
199. Settlement of Bermuda. The London company
having obtained a grant of Bermuda, they sold the pro-
perty of it to one hundred and twenty of their company^
who obtained a charter in 1612, and sent a colony of
sixty persons there, the same year, under the govern-
ment of Richard Moor, calling the isles after sir George
Somers. In the course of the following year, five ships
were sent with near five hundred additional adventur-
ers, and the colony was established. This cluster of
isles had been discovered almost one himdred years
before, by one Bermuda, a Spaniard ; and they still bear
his name, in common language.
200. Name of New-England. Caj)t. John Sniith,
a famous adventurer, sailed with two ships, to the coast
of America, in 1614 ; and while his men were employed
in fishing, he ranged along the coast from Monhe^n to
Cape Cod. He left one ship, and went to England in the
other; where he formed and published a chart of the coast,
which he presented to prince Charles, who gave the coun-
tory the name of New-England, Capt. Hunt, whom
he sent with the other ships, treacherously took twenty
of the natives in his ship, and carried them to Malaga
where he sold them for slaves. This provoked me
Indians to such a degree as to render it difficult and
dangerous to trade with them ; and the good efiects of
a voyage the same year, made by captain Harley to
Martha's Vineyard, were prevented by the opposition of
the Indians, who manned a great number of canoes,
8
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86 BISTORT OF THC UNITED STATES.
attacked and wounded the master, and many of the
crew.
201. Severed voyages lo America. The brave captain
Smith, attempting to sail to America in 1615, to begin
a settlement, lost his masts in a gale, and pat back to
Plymouth. Embarking in another vessel immediately,
he was taken bv French ships of war and carried to
France. In 1616, it appears that he was in England,
for he published his account and his map of New-Eng-
land. In this latter vear, captain Bafim renewed the
attempt to find a north west passa£^e to China, explored
Hudson's bay. entered the bay called by his name, and
ascended to tne 78th degree of latitude. At this time ^
the fisheries on the coast were prosecuted with great
numbers of ships and great success. In 1619, captain
Dermer passed through Long Island sound ; and he was
pVobably the first European who explored the coast of
Connecticut.
202. Oriffin of the Puritans, The religious sect
denominated Puritans, were so called, either from the
strictness and purity of their religious opinions and
morals ; or from their attempts to purify the first liturgy,
formed in the reign of Edward VI. from the remains of
popish errors in doctrines and ceremonies. The refor-
mation begun by Henry VIII., consisted chiefly in
detaching the English church from the pope's power,
and constituting the king of England the supreme head
of the church. In the reign of his son and successor,
Edward VI., a liturgy or form of divine service was
adopted. But his successor, queen Mary, was a papist,
and she endeavored to re-establish popery in England.
The consequence was, a most cruel persecution of the
reformers in England, many of whom were burnt at the
stake for refusing to comply with the popish rites. This
persecution drove many of the reformers to the conti-
nent, who took refuge m France, Flanders, Germany
and Switzerland.
203. Division among the refugees* The exiles who
fled from persecution in England settled in various
places, but were most numerous in Frankfort, where
they were admitted to imite with a French church of
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OP N. AMERICA. 87
Teformers. Here a division arose among them ; some
choosing to use Edward's liturgy vrithout alteration;
otheris contending for a fonn of divine service more
pure, and free from popish doctrines and ceremonies.
Hence a separation took place ; and those who desired
a purer form of service retired to Greneva, and adopted
the Grenevan service. This separation gave rise to the
distinction of Conformists and Puritans. After the
death of queen Mary, Elizaheth succeeded to the throne
of England ; and as she professed to be favorable to the
reformation, most of the exiles returned to England, in
expectation of enjoying protection.
204. Measures under Elizabeth. Soon after Eliza-
beth ascended the throne of England, the laws in favor
of popery, enacted in the reign of Mary, were repealed,
and an act of parliament restored to the English crown
the supremacy in all ecclesiastical and civil affairs;
and another established uniformity of Common Prayer.
Elizabeth wus an arbitrary princess, and seems to have
been more careful to vindicate her supremacy over the
church, than to reform the doctrines or Worship. By
an act of parliament, the queen was authorized to appoint
/commissioners to visit churches, and reform all errors,
heresies, and schisms. Under these laws, Elizabeth
took the most violent measures to enforce uniformity in
church discipline and service. The liturgy of Edward
was adopted with some alterations ; and all persons
were enjoined to use it. Those of the reformed who
refused to comply with the requisitions of the statutes,
and worship in the mode prescribed, were subjected to
severe penalties.
205. State of the church. In Elizabeth's reign, many
of the churches were not supplied with pastors. Very
few had ministers who could preach ; the only public
worship they enjoyed was the reading of the service or
homilies ; and the major part of the beneficed clergy
were illiterate men. mechanics, or mass priests in dis-
guise ; many churcnes were closed, and in some dioceses
a sennon was not to be heard in the compass of twenty
miles. The Puritans, who could not conscientiously
IBubscribe to the articles, or conform to the church forr^
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88 HISTORY OP THE DNITBD BTATSa
of service, were compelled to collect for W(»rship in
private houses, with the utmost secresy. as the first
Christians did, und^ the persecutions ot the Roman
emperors. Hundreds of Puritan ministers were silenced,
or deprived of their livings, and many were imprisoned,
while their fanulies were starving. These persecutions
were continued, with little abatement, for forty or fifty
years.
206. Separation from the English church. The
dissenters were verv reluctant to separate from the
established church ; tor many years they made efforts,
)i>y petitions, to obtain toleration; but the queen, the
archbishops, and most of the bishops, were inflexible ;
and no toleration could be obtained. At length, a
number of Puritans, headed by one Brown, abandoned
the Episcopal church. They were called Brownistay
from the name of their leader, a hot-headed young
clerffyman^ who preached with ^reat vehemence against
the disciplme ana ceremonies oi the church, and gained
popularity. For this offense, he was taken by a sherif,
^nd conveyed to London, where he confessed his fault,
and obtained his release. He was afterwards repeatedly
imprisoned, as were some of his adherents. At length,
Brown and his congregation removed to Holland, where
his church crumbled to pieces. Brown returned to
England, renounced his principles, and obtained the
rectofy of a church in Northamptonshire, where he died
in 1630.
2Q7. Continued persecutions. Although the Brown-
ists in Holland were dispersed, yet in England, Puritans
of more moderation were very numerous, and they were
firm in maintaining their religious principles. They
were persecuted indeed^ and the books which they
published were prohibited by the queen's authority.
Two persons who circulated their books were taker
and hanged. Many of the Puritans were taken firom
their families and imprisoned; some were banished,
and others put to death. In the year 1604, three hundrea
ministers were deprived of their livings, or excommu -
nicated, or cast mto prison, or forced to leave theur
Qountry.
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4f DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF N. AMERICA. 89
208. Removal to Holland. The Puritans in the
liorthern and middle counties of England, living remote
'from each other, formed two distinct churches or socie-
ties, one of which chose John Smith for their pastor ;
|he other chose John Robinson for their pastor, and
WilliauoQ Brewster for their elder. They used to meet
aD private for worship, but they were frequently distmrbed
by^oflficers, and some of them were ruined by persecution.
At length, Smith and his adherents passed over to
Holland. A party of Puritans had before left England
for the same country. They hired a Dutch ship at
IIuU, but as they were proceeding to Embark, they were
pursued by officers and soldiers ; to escape them, the
men hurried on board, but their wives were left. These
were brought before ^ne maa^istrate and another, and
harassed for a time j but no evidence being found against
them, they were dismissed, and at last were perpiittcd
to join their husbands in Holland.
209. Removal of John Robinstfm John Robinson
and his congregation were the founders of the colony
ik PlymoiSk, in Massachusetts. IBK^ removed^
Amsterdam in the year 1608. But on account of some
'differences with another congregation under INTr. Smith,
they removed in about a year to Leyden, where they
Jived in harmony, till they removed to America. These
adventurers attempted to procure a p^ent under the
Virginia company ; but they found flvf difif^lt, on
account of the odiousness of their,^Hmples.' They
finally^ obtained one in the name mTWti Win cob, but
he falling to remove to America, it was of no use, ai^*'.
they resolved to remove without one.
210. Voyage of the first settlei's. The first colony,
consisting of a part onlyof Mr. Robinson's congregation,
sailed from Holland in July, 1620, and put into South-
ampton, in England, where a larger ship was prepared.
They left that port in August, but the ship being leaky
they put into Dartmouth, from whence tney sailed in
two snips on the 21st of the same month. After pro-
ceeding a hundred leagues, they were compelled to
return to Plymouth ; one ship being leaky^i^s condemn-
fd, and the other proceeded on her ^yage. This
8*
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90
HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES*
ship left England September 6th, and arrived in No-
vember at cape Cod ; the company intending to bear,
awav to Hudson's river, but were terrified with the.
breakers on the shoals, and changing their course,, put
into harbor.
LANDING AT PLYMOUTH.
211. Pro^rijm^^ the settlers. This colony did not
arrive^ll the^^Hf Wovember, O. S.,.when the weatHez
Wiis cold, an^BHf they had not determined on a spot
for their settlemen is. Parties were d ispatched to explore
the country, which, after incredible sufferings from cold,
snow, and rain, found ^ harbor. Here the people landed
oh the 20th pecember, 1620, after prayers and thanks
to heaven, for safetjr and ^uida^ce, and immediately
began to erect buildings, giving to the plantation the
name of Plymouth, after the name of the town which
they last left in England, Before they landed, they
signed articles by which they formed themselves into a
body politic. By means of diseases occasioned by colda^
and severe si^erings, the settlers, who were one hundred
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r^ mSCOVKRY AND SETl'LEMfer^T OP N. AMERICA. 91
pmd one souls, lost half their number in about five
months.
912. 'First cultivation of' maiz or Indian corn. On
fhe opening of spring, the settlers sowed barley, and
peas, which produced an indiiferent crop. Indian corn
ly-as the gr^in which furnished them with a great part
of their subsistence ; but as they never before saw it,
Bquanto, an IndiaQ. who had been carried to Spain by
jcaptain Hunt, bui had retur^jed^ assisted theim in pl^Atin^
and dressing it. This was the beginning of the culti-
vation of a grain which is the staple production of New
England.
2il3. Patent to the duke of Lenox and others. In
the very month when the first settlers arrived in Ame-
rica, king James granted a patent to the duke of Lenox
and others, dated November 3, 1620, incorporating thenjt
with the style of the " Council established at Plymouth,
in the county of ETevon, fear the planting and governing
of New England, in America," ^^Hk. full poweas to
purchase and hold la^ds, appoint officers, and make laws. ^
The limits of the grant to them wereji*^|||pm 40 \%^^f^
degrees of latitude, throughout the rnainTanfls from sctP^
t6 sea," with the isles adjoining, provided they were
not occupied by any other Chfbtian prince or state, -and
on condition of paying to the crcwn a fifth of the i^old
fmd silver ore they should find and obtgiin. By this
patent, the territory granted, Tsm&h h^ been^gfore
called North Virginia, received the JfUxomm^few
England^ from royal authority, and from tffis w«re •
derived all the subsequent grants of the several parts
pf the territory.
214. Chants to John Mason and Ferdinando Gorges.
By a deed, dated March 9, 1021, the council of Plymouth
granted to John Mason the lands from Naumkesig, now
Salem, to the Merrimac, extending inland to the heads
of those rivers^ the lands on which are now built Be-
verly, Ipswich, and Newburyport. This^ district was
called Mariana. By anodier grant, dated August 10,
1622, the council assigned to Gorges and Mason jointly
all the ia&ds between the Memmac ajBHCagadahoc,
extending westward to the rivers of (^Hada, which
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92 HISTORY or THE ONITED STATES.
district was called Laconia, Within this gprant lids
the present state of New Hampshire.
215. Settlemefit of New Hampshire^ Under the^
^nts of Gorges and Mason, a nomber of persons arrived
m the ri^er Piscataqua, in 1623, and began two settle-,
ments; one. at the mouth, at a place called the little
harbor; the other at the placfi now called Dover.
These settlements were enlarged at first very slowly,
but they were the small beginnings of the present state
of New Hampshire.
216. Grant of Nova Scotia. William Alexander, a.
Scots gentleman, obtained from king James a grant,
dated September 10, 1621, of the lands extending from
cape Sable to St. Mary's bay, thence to the source of
the river St. Croix, thence northerly to the ne^f^rest river
or harbor on the St. Lawrence or Iroquois, theuce along
the bank of that river to a harbor called Graspe. thence
easterly to the n orth point of cape Breton, and thence ta
cape Sable. TrfBlfe district was then given the present
name Novn, Scotia, which signifies New Scotland.
Xfais distridjpBf^s a part of the lands granted by the
I r rench k!?if? to De Monts, in 1603, and which has sincoL
been the subject of contest between Great Britain and
France. This grant was confirmed to Alexander by
king Charles the fir&t, by patent dated July 12, 1625.
217. Grant to Robert Gorg€0. Robert Gorges, the
sonjif Ferdu^d, obnuaed a grant from the council of
Pl^fftai^ cB^d December 30, 1622, of a tract of land
on the north side of the bay of Massachusetts, ten miles
in breadth, and extending thirty miles into the land.
Under this grant, he attempted a settlement the next
year at the place now called Weymouth ; the spot which
a company of adventurers, under one Weston, had oc-
cupied the year before, and abandoned. But the settlers
were not contented with the situation or with the coun-
try ; and soon forsaking the place, the intention of Gorges
was frustrated. In 1625, captain Wollaston, with a
small company, arrived and planted themselves at
Mount WiMJaston, now Q,uincy. With them was one
Morton, a ^Mpryer, who gave the settlers great trouble,
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DISCOVERT AND SfiTTLEllEKT OF N. ABfERICA. 03
and who was finally seized by the Plymouth people and
sent a prisoner to England.
218. Charter rf Massachtisetis. By deed, bearing
date March 19, 1028, the Plymouth company granted
to sir Henry Rosewell and others, all the lands lyinc
between a Ime three miles north or Merrimac river, and
a line three miles south of every part of Charles river,
and of the bay of Massachusetts, and extending with
the same breaath throughout the main lands from the
Atlantic to the South Sea. A charter dated March 4,
1629, was obtained from the crown of England,* by
which that grant 'was confirmed, and the company
erected into a corporation, with ample powers of gov- »
emment. Matthew Cradock was appointed the first
governor, and sworn March 18, 1^9. Under this
charter was Massachusetts settled.
219. Settlement of Salem. In the year 1628, a com-
pany of adventurers, under Mr. John Endicott, arrived,
at Naumkeag, the Indian name of a river, and began a*
plantation, which was called Salem, A small settlement,
under Mr. Oldham and Mr. Conant. had been begun at
Nantasket, in 1624 ; and the people removed to cape
Ann, in the following year. But all these small settle-
ments were brought under the government of the Salem
colony.
220. Settlement of Charlet^ovm. In 1630, ^ con-
siderable fleet arrived at Salem, with fifteen hundred
passengers, and some of the most respectable of the
primitive families in New England, governor Winthrop,
governor Dudley, sir Richard Saltonstall. and many
others. Not liking that place as a capital town, they
removed and planted themselves at Charlestown.
221. Progress of the settlements to the building of
Boston. Unfortunately, many of the passengers were
taken sick on the voyage, and a malignant fever in one
of the ships, in 1629, was communicated to the settlers
on shore, which occasioned an alarming mortality.
This and other discouragements induced more than one
hundred of the people to return, by the fcrst ships, to
England. But most of them persevered, and conceiving
|he peninsula, on the other sid^ of the river, to be a
Digitized by Google
04 HISTORY OF THE DNITED STATEi.
safe and conTenient place for their principal town, they
removed before winter, began the town, and fiamed it
Boston, after the town of that name in England. Sir
Richara Saltonstall's company sat down at Watertown ;
Mr. Warham and his people planted Dorchester.
222. Plymouth patenU In January 1690, the council
for planting New England g[ranted to governor Bradford
of Plymouth, and his associates, a patent of a tract of
land, extending from a rivulet called Cohasset, to Nar-
raffanset river, and westward to a coimtry called Paco-
n(xit ; and a tract of fifteen miles on each side of the
river Kennebec, with full powers of colonial c^ovemment.
The settlement at Plymouth constituted a colony distinct
from Massachusetts, until the year 1692, when it was
annexed to Massachusetts,
223. Of Connecticut The settlers at Manhattan
and in Massachusetts very soon obtained a knowledge
of the fertility of the lands on the river Connecticut,
' and laid claim to the territory. The Plymouth people
formed a design of b€«;inning a.nlantation there, and
applied to the Massachusetts settlers to join them in
1633. The governor and council of Massachusetts de*
clined, as they were not certain the territory fell within
their patent. In the summer of 1633, a bark was sent
to Manhattan by the governor of Massachusetts, for the
miro^ of signifying to the Dutch governor. Van
Twn^, that the Enghsh colonies claimed Connecticut
by virtue of their charter ; to which the Dutch governor
replied, in a polite letter, that the Dutch company
claimed it also. Both parties desired the other to for-
bear making any plantation on that river.
224. First settlements on the Connecticut, In Oc-
tober, 1633, a small vessel was sent by the Plymouth
colony to erect a trading house on the bank of the
Connecticut.' When passinfi^ up the river, the men
found the Dutch had arrived there before them, and
had built a fort which they called Good Hope, on the
west bank, near the mouth of a smaU river, within the
present town of Hartford. The Dutch forbad the men
to proceed, threatening to fire on them ; but the Ply-
mouth men, disregarding the threat, advanced a fe^
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blSCOVekY AKD StttLEMfiNT OF N. AMlSRlCA. 95
miles further, alid erected a trading house within the
present town of Windsor. The Dutch sent to Holland
tor a commission to. dispossess them, and the next year
a party attempted it ; but after some menaces, they de-
partea without committing any violence.
226. Settlement of Wethersjield, In June, 1635, a
bark of forty tons, and twenty servants, belonging to
sir Richard SaltonstalJ, arrived at Boston trom England,
being sent to begin a plantation on the Connecticut.
These, with- a few adventurers from Watertown, re-
paired to Connecticut and began a settlement at Pe-
quaug, which they called Wethersfield. This was,
probably, in Juljr^ for the ancient laws of the colony
declare Wethersfield to be the oldest town on the river.
The bark, after landing the people, returned, and on
her passage to England, was cast away on me isle of
dable, but the seamen were saved.
V 226. Settlement of Windsor. In the summer of 1635,
the people Of Dorcnester beffan a plantation near the
Pijrmouth trading h<Hise. This was in the latter part
of July or beginning of August. The Plymouth people
were much offended, and complained of this as an injury ;
for they considered their prior possession as giving them
a fair claim to the lands, and they had also purchased
them of the Indians. The controversy, however, was
adjusted by making satisfaction to the Plymouth men,
or the latter relinquished their claims ; and the Dor-
chester people, continuing on the lands, began the town
of Windsor.
227. Progress of settlements on the Connecticut, In
October, 1635, the Dorchester i)eople, to the number of
sixty, with their cows and swine, traveled by land to
the Connecticut, to join their bretnren at Windsor. It
being late in the season^ and no fodder being provided,
most of the cattle died m the ensuin^^ winter. A part
*of them remained on the east side of the river, and hved
by browsing on the shrubs. Two shallops, laden with
gdods and provisions, were dispatched by water, but
were cast away at the Gurnet, near Plymouth, and all
th6 people perished. The people of Connecticut waited
^ their provisions, till famine threatened them ; ancf
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96 B18T0BY OF THE CNtTBD ffTATBS.
then went down the river, in hopes of meeting the ex-
pected supplies. Being disappointed, they embarked
on board ot a vessel at the mouth of the river, and after
great distress, arrived at Boston, having lost some of
their number oy hunger. Those who wmtered in Con-
necticut were obliged to eat acorns, malt, and grains.
The value of the cattle which died was two thousand
pounds sterling.
288* Settlement of Hartford, The congregation at
Newtown, now Cambridge, with Mr. HooEer their
^^astor, left that place early in summer. 1636, and traveled
***%y land to Connecticut, driving one nundred and sixty-
cattle, through a pathless wilderness, without shelter.
or bridges over rivers. They began a plantation ana
called it Newtown, which name was afterwards ex-
changed for Hartford. The Indian name was Sukeee.
The towns of Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford,
beins thus settled, associated and chose magistrates to
regulate their common concerns. In 1639, they formed
a regular constitution, and chose Mr. Haynes their first
governor.
229. Of Saybrook, The earl of Warwick, one of the
Plymouth company, had granted to lord Say and Seal,
and others, a patent, dated March 19th, 1631, of the
territory in New England, extending westward of the
river Narraganset forty leagues, in a straight line near
the sea shore, and all the lands of and within that breadth
to the South Sea. In October, 1635, John Winthrop,
the son of the governor of Massachusetts, arrived at
Boston, with a commission from lord Say and others,
to erect a fort at the mouth of the Connecticut, to secure
the river and territory from the Dutch. His commission
constituted him governor of Connecticut for one year.
This patent interfered with the plantations already begun
on the Connecticut ; but it was. agreed by the govern-
ment of Massachusetts and Mr. Winthrop, that the v
settlers of three towns on the Connecticut should either
leave the place upon full satisfaction, or afford ample
room for Mr. Winthrop and his associates.
230. Settlement of Sayhrook, In November, 1635,
Mr. Winthrop «ent two small vessels, with an engineer^
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DtSCOVERY AKD 8ETTLEBIENT OF N. AMERICA. 97
Workmen, and materials, to build a fort at the moUth
of the Connecticut. The place they selected was oil
the west hank of the river, and they gave the settlement
the name of Saybrook, combining tne titles of two of the
patentees, lords Say and Brook. In July. 1639, George
Fenwick, agent of the patentees, arrived from England^
with his family, at Boston, and repaired to Saybrook to
prosecute the plantation.
231. Settlement of New Haven. In July, 1037, arrived
at Boston, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Eaton, and a number of
adventurers. After exploring the country westward of
Saybrook they built a nut at a place called duinnipiacf^
where a few persons remained during the winter. In
April, 1638, Mr. Davenport and his company arrived
from Boston, and began a plantation, which they called
New Haven. They immediately devoted a day to
religious exercises, and entered into a covenant to make
the rule^ of scripture the basis of their civil and religious
government. In June, 1639, the planters assembled,
and formed a constitution of government; and in October
following, an election of officers was held, in which
Mr. Eaton was chosen governor. They purchased the
lands of the sachem of the country, and engaged tO
defend him and his people Tiom the Pequots and Mo-
ha\^ks*
232. Settlement of Maford and Gw'lford, In Feb-
ruary, 1639, a number of persons, mostly from Wethers-
field, purchased from the Indians, Wopowage, and began
a settlement which they called Milford, ten miles west
of New Haven. In September, of the same year, ano-
ther company purchased Menunkatuc. and began a
plantation wnicii they called Guilford^ sixteen miles
east of New Haven. The chief men were chosen ma-
gistrates and judges, to preserve order and distribute
justice, until a constitution of government should be
named and established.
233. Settlement of Fairfield and Stratford. Mr*
Ludlowj of Windsor, who had traversed the lands west
of duinnipiac, in pursuit of the Pequots in 1637, was
so well pleased with tiieir fertility, that he and a few
friends purchased a large traet at Unquowa, and began
9
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98 HISTORY OF THfi UNITED 9TAT£3.
a settlement in 1639, called Fairfidd. This WM
augmented by adyenturers from Watertown and Cooi-
cord, in Massachusetts. In the same year, a company
of men from England and Massachusetts, purohased
Cupheeg and Poquonnuc, and began the town of ^rat-
fara,
234. Delaware Purchase and Stanford. In 1640^
New Haven made a purchase of Rif^wams ; and of
tracts of land on both sides of Delaware bay. on whkh
they erected trading houses, and sent about mty families
to begin a plantation, which in two years was broke up
by mortal diseases, and the attacks of the Swedes.
They ako purchased on Long Island, the land now
called SouthkoUL In the same year a violent contro-
versy divided the church in Wethersfield^ and one part
purcnased of New Haven the lands at Rippo warns -and
oegan the town of Stanford.
235. Purchase of Saybrook. In the year 1640, four
distinct colonies were settled and their governments
formed, viz. Plymouth. Massachusetts, Connecticut and
New Haven. The plantation at Saybrook remaiiied
independent of the government of these colonies, under
the direction of Fenwick. But in December, 1644, Mr.
Fenwick, as agent for the patentees^ sold the fort at
Saybrook and its appurtenances, to the Connecticut
colony ; and engaged to convey, all the lands betwsen
the fort and Narraganset river, u they should come into
his power. In consideration of these grants, Connecs
Cicut agreed to pay to Mr. Fenwick, cerUun fixed duties
on articles exported from the river, for ten years. But
these duties, m 1646, were ccMumuted for the sum or
value of one hundred and eighty pounds, in certain
articles of produce, to be paid annually for ten yeatrs.
236. Union of the colonies. Although by a mortal
pestilence which spread among the natives, about the
year 1617 and 18, the tribes between the Narraganset
and Penobscot, had been greatly reduced and weakened,
and the Pequot tribe had been destroyed by the Con^
neeticut settlers in 1637; yet the country contained
numerous tribes, and sufficient to exterminate the infant
settlements, if they chOse to unite and take up the
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DISCOTERT AND SETTLEMENT OF N. AMERICA. 99
hatchet. The cajonies were also exposed to the Dutch.
For the greater security, therefore, the four colonies
united iu 1648, in articles of confederation, by which
they agreed to succor, aid, and support each otoer, and
to maintain the independence of each. Annual meetings
of their commissioners were to be held at Boston, Hart-
ford, New Haven and Plymouth, in rotation. The
charges of war for the common defense were to be
assessed on each colony, accordins^ to the number of
males between sixteen years old and sixty. Massachu-
setts was to furnish one hundred soldiers, and each of
the t>thers forty-fivQ ; or in that proportion. This upion
was of great utility to the infant settlements, for thirty?
Gve years. '
237. Qharter and union of Connecticut and New
Haven, In the war between the commonwealth of
England, under Cromwell and the Dutch, in 1653,
captain UnderhUl, by virtue of a commission from Eng-
land, took possession of the Dutch property in Hartford,
and the lands were sold. After the restoration of king
Charles II., the Connecticut planters^ by John Win-
throp, their agent, petitioned for a charter, which was
granted, and dated April 14, 1662. The territory
granted and confirmed to them, was bounded by Narra-
gansft bay on the east, by Massachuaietts on the north,
on the soiith by the sea, and extended to the south sea
on the west. By this charter the settlers were incor-
porated into a bodv politic, with ample powers of gov-
ernment, But the charter comprehended the New
Haven colony, and was obtained without their consent ;
which occasioned great uneasiness and discontent
among the New Haven planters, whp remonstrated
against beinff brought under the jurisdiction of Connec-
ticut. But m December, 1664, the general court of
New Haven consented to the union, and thus was
formed the late colony, now state of Connecticut ; a
union which, by its happy consequences, has proved
how idle were the fears of the people about a consoli-
dation.
238. Union of Plynumthvnih Massachusetts, Mas-
sachusetts and Plymouth continued to be distinct-
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100 BISTOST OF THE UNITED STATES.
colonies, until lonff after the restoration of king Charles.
The charter of Massachusetts was 'vacated by legal
process in Enffland, in the year 1685 ; and the colony
subjected to uie arbitrary government of sir Edmund
Andross, until the revolution in favor of king William,
when he was seized and sent to England, and the
colony resumed their old charter government. In 1602,
a new charter was obtained, confirming the privileges
of the colony, and comprehending the colony of Plym
outh in the same government. Since that time Plymouth
has been a county of the colony, now state, of Massa-
chusetts.
239. SetUement of Providence, A clergvman, named
Roger Williams, who arrived with the colony of Mas-
sachusetts in 1^30, became disgusted and removed to
Plymouth, where he assisted the Rev. Mr. Smith, for
two years. In consequence of some discontent, he left
that town and went to Salem, where he was cnosen.to
succeed Mr. Shelton. But he was charged by tiie
magistrates with holding dangerous doctrines, his
settlement was opposed, and he was banished. He
^t went to Seekouk, now Rehoboth, and purchased a
tract of land of the sachem ; but as this was within the
jurisdiction of Plymouth, he was desired to rempve.
Accordingly, in the spring of 1635, he entered into an
a^preement with Miantonome and Ganonicus, sachems
pf the Narragansets, fixed his residence at Mooshawsic,
and called the place Providence,
240. Settlement of Newport. In consequence of
religious dissensions, one Jonn Clark, and a few friends,
left Boston by water, sailed round cape Cod, and travel-
ed to Providence, wnere they were entertained by Mr.
Williams. Upon application to the Plymouth people,
they were advised to settle at Aquetneck, now Rhode
Island. In consequence, they formed an agreement
among themselves for tneir government, purchased or
obtained a grant of that isle from the natives, dated
March 24, 1638, and began a settlement, on the north
east end, at Pocasset, opposite to the present town of
Tiverton. In the following year, 1639; a plaijtaUon
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OP N. AMERICA. 101
was begun, on the westerly side of the isle, and called
Newport. Patuxet was settled by William Arnold.
241. Progress of settlements in the neigJiborhood,
In 1643, Shawmet was purchased by one Gorton and
ten associates. Grorton had been banished from Rhode
Island, in 1640 ; he went to Patuxet, was summoned
before the court of Massachusetts, and refusing submit
sion, was taken a prisoner, tried, confined all winter,
and then banished. Having obtained a grant of Shaw-
met, he went to England, obtained a confirmation of his
grant, and settled the town now called Warwick. W^-
terly was made a township in 1689 ; Kingston, in 1674 ;
East Greenwich, in 1677; and Conanicut m 1678, by the
name of Jamestown.
24^ Govei-nment of Providence, The settlers in
these plantations, were first governed by a magistrate
and assistants ; but in 1640, they gave the title of gov-
ernor, to the chief magistrate, and formed an imperfect
constitution. In 1643, Mr. Williams went to England
and obtained a charter, dated March 14tli, 1644, from
the commissioners of plantations, ujider which Rhode
Island and Providence plantations formed a body of
laws. In 1651, an attempt was made to alter this con-
stitution, but Williams and Clark were sent to England
and prevented it. After the restoration of king Charles
II., a new charter was obtained from the crown, dated
July 8th, 1663, by which the people of the colony
were incorporated, with ample powers of government,
and which still remains the basis of their government
243. Settlement of Maine. The shores of that part
of America, extending from the river Pascataqua, to
the bay of Fundy. had been discovered by many of the
first voyagersj both English and French. The grant of
the French king to de Monts, in 1603, covered the lands
from the fortietn to the forty-sixth degree of latitude,
and of course included Maine ; but the French settle-
ments were north and east of this district. Sir John
Popham and his company attempted a settlement on an
isle at the mouth of the Kennebec, in 1607-8, but aban-
doiied the country. The Plymouth patent also in 1630,
c<)ntained a grant of a tract of land on the Cobisccontce
9*
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103 BISTOBT OF TRB UNITED STATES.
rirer, and sixteen miles on each side of the Kennebec,
under which a settlement was made for the purpose ot
trade. A dispute arising between the Plymoutn men,
and some persons belonging to Pascataqua. about the
right to trade at that place, two men were killed ; but
the controversy was amicably settled. Under these
crants, however, some small settlements were made,
before any government was established in Maine.
!W4. Grant of Maine to sir Ferdinando Gorges,
By a royal patent, dated April 3, 1639, Gorges obtained
9 grant of all the lands between tlie Pascataqua and
Newichawanoc on the south and west, and Sagadahoc
and Kennebec on the east, extending one hundred and
twenty miles north westward into the country, with the
isles adjacent, and Capawac, now Martha's Vineyard.
By this charter, the territory received the title of the
" Province of Maine,"^ by which it was known till the
American revolution. Go^es neglected this grant, and
during the civil wars in England, Massachusetts ex-
tended her claim over a part of the district. Gorges
died, and his grandson sold the property to the colony
of Massachusetts, for fourteen hundred pounds sterliog.
The new charter of 1692, placed Maine under the
Massachusetts government ; but in 1819, it became a
state.
245. Grant and settlement of Maryland. By char-
ter, dated June 20, 1632, Charles the first granted to
Cecelius Calvert, baron of Baltimore, in Ireland, the
lands in America, between Watkins's point in the
Chesapeak, and a line from that point to the ocean, on
the south ; and a line under the fortieth degree of lati-
tude on the Delaware, on the north ; which north line
was extended to the highest source of the Potomac, and
thence by that river to its mouth, and across the bay to
Watkins'spoint— to be held by him and his heirs in fee
simple. This tract was named Maryland, and settled
at first by Roman Catholics from Ireland.
246. Progress of Maryland. The ffovemment of
Marvland continued in the family of lord Baltimore
until James the II. abdicated the throne, when the par-
liament assiuned the government. In 1692, the Protes-
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DISCOVERY AND 8ETTLSMENT OF N. AMERI0A. 103
tant religion was established. by law. In 1716, the
government was restored to the proprietary, and con-
tinued in his family, till the revolution ; when his
absence was considered as a forfeiture of his rights to
the soil and jurisdiction ; a convention was called, a
constitution formed, and the country erectec} into an
independent state. In 1785. Mr. Harford, the heir <jf
lord Baltimore, petitioned tne legislature for his quit
rents, &c., which accrued during the war, but without
success,
247. First settlements on the Delaware, It is diffi-
cult to ascertain the precise date of the first plantations
on the Delaware. ^ The Dtltch and Swedes began
settlements there, within a few years after the Dutch
West India company obtained a grant of New Nether-
lands, and between 1630, and 1637. Both claimed the
territory, and a controversy arose bet-^en the Dutch
governor of New Netherlands, and the Swedish settlers,
which subsisted many years. In 1641, a number of
families from New Haven began a plantation on that
river ; but many of them died, the next summer by
sickness, and the rest were afterwards driven away by
the Dutch and Swedes, who maintained their ground,
and the descendants of the latter still live in Pennsyl-
vania.
248. State of Delaware, The plantations on the
Delaware fell within the patent to the duke of York, in
1664 ; or at least were considered as within its limits.
After the grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn, in
1681, the duke of York, by deeds, dated Au^t 21st
and 24th, 1682, granted and released to William Penn
all his claims to the lands within William Penn's pa-
tent, and the lands about New Castle, within a circle
of twelve miles, and south to the Hoar Kills. By an
act of union and an act of settlement between Mr. Penn
and the inhabitants, dated December 6, 1682, the coun-
ties, on the Delaware, were annexed to the province of
Pennsylvania ; they, however, had a separate assemblv,
in which the governor of Pennsylvania presided. At
the late revolution, the three counties erected a free
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104 HISTOBT OP TETC UNITED STATES.
iadependent state, by the name of Delaware, and formed
a constitution.
249. Grant to the duke of York, After the English
had conquered New Netherlands from the Dutch in
1664. king Charles the second, by patent dated the
tweltth day of March, 1664, granted to his brother James,
duke of Y o^ a tract of land in America, beginning at
Nova Scotia, and extending along the coast to Pemaauid
^nd tp the h^ad of that river ; thence to the Kenneoec,
and northward to the river of Canada ; also. Long Islana
and Hv|dson's river, and jiU the lands from the west side
of Connecticut river to the east side of Delaware bay,
with Martha's Vineyard»and Nantucket. To this terri-
tory the duke gave the name of New York. The
boondaries are hardly to be understood ; but this grant
pf lands, before granted to others on the Connecticut,
occasioned many and warm controversies between the
colonies of New YorL Connecticut, New Hampshire,
and Vermont, some of which lasted for more than a
century.
' 250. Grant of New Jersey. The duke of York, by
deed of release, dated June 24th, 1664, sold and con-
firmed to lord Berkeley and sir George Carteret, their
heirs and assigns, all that tract of land to the westward
of Long Island and Manhattan, between the ocean and
the Hudson on the east, and the Delaware on the west,
from cape May to the north branch of the Delaware, in
forty-one degrees and forty minutes of latitude, by the
name of New Cesaria, or iVeir Jersey, Under this
grant, settlements were soon begun, and Philip Carteret
was appointed the first j^vernpr.
251. Progress of New Jersey. The proprietors of
New Jersey made grants of land, while their shares
were undivided ; but by deed quintipartite, dated July
1, 1676, the proprietors divided this tract of land ; sir
.Geoi^e Carteret taking the eastern half, and one Byl-
linge and others, the purchasers under lord Berkeley,
taking the other half. The dividing line was agreed
to be a straight line from a point on the east side of
Little Egg Harbor, to the northernmost branch of the
pelaware. This line was not ran for many years, and
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DISCOVERT AND SETTLEMENT OF N. AHBRIOA. 105
thence arose controversies and riots between the claim-
ants under different prometors ; thence also the distinc-
tion between East and West Jersey. These disputes
lasted till the late revolution, when New Jersey became
an independent state ; and were not closed till after the
peace of 1783.
252. Charter of Carolina, In the year 1663, the
earl of Clarendon, and seven others, obtained from
Charles the second, a patent of the lands of America
lying between the thirty-first and thirty-sixth degrees
of north latitude. Two years after, this grant was
confirmed, and the limits extended from the twenty-
ninth degree to thirty-six and a half, and between these
parallels, fVom the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. Of
this tract of land, the grantees were constituted absolute
lords and proprietors. For the government of the
<;ountry, they procured a form, of constitution to be
drawn up by the celebrated Locke, which appeare4
well on paper, but was not practicable nor convenient,
and was therefore not established.
253. Settlement of Carolina. In 1664, the proprie-
tors of Carolina sent captain Sayle to explore the coast ;
who, beine drivan by a storm among the Bahamas,
examined the isle of Providence ; then sailing along the
American coast, he made a favorable report oi the
country. In consequence of his information, the pro-
prietors solicited and obtained a patent of all the isles
between the twenty-second and twenty-seventl| degrees
of north latitude, which included the Bahamas. In
1670, captain Sayle, with a small company, arrived at
Port Royal, and begun a settlement ; but he soon fell
a victim to disease. In 1671, the settlers removed to
the banks of Ashley river, and begun what has been
called Old Charleston. In 1680, they began the present
city of Charleston. The first settlers had to strujj^gle
with extreme hardships and distress, from want, from
ihe savages, and from the diseases incident to the
climate.
254. Progress of Carolina, The new settlement
was augmented, about the year 1672 or 3, by a number
. pf the Dutch inhabitants from New York, who left that
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106 HISTORY OP THE UNITED 8TATE8.
oolony after it came into possession of the English.
These fonned a settlement on the south-west of Ashley
rirer, called Jamestown ; but they afterwards dispersed
into other parts of the countirv.
A few years after, a considerable number of Protest
tants, in consequence of the persecutions which followed
the revocation of the edict of Nantz in 1685, left France,
and settled in Carolina. In 1699, a tremendous hurri-
cane brought such an inundation upon the town, that
the inhabitants were obliged to seek shelter in the upper
Mories pf their houses. A fire broke out and destroyed
most of the town. The ^^nall j>ox ra^ed the same
year ; and finally^ so mortal a pestilential bilious fever,
that almost half the people aied, These calamities
came near to break up t)ie colony.
255. StcUe of Carolina., In 1728, a very hot summer
was followed by a dreadful hurricane, wnich laid the
town of Charleston under water, damaged the wharves
and houses, and dashed to pieces almost every ship in
the harbor. This was fpllowed by a pestilential bilious
fever, which destroyed gpreat ^umDers of the inhabitants,
and it was hardly possible to find people to tend the
|iick and bury the dead.
In this year, the proprietors of Carolina, except lord
Carteret, sold all their property to the crown of England,
and surrendered the government. Until this time, the
govemors of Carolina had been appointed by the pro-
prietors ; but from this period, the king a^^inted the
ffovemor and council, as in many other colonies. This
form of government continued till the revolution, when
Carolina became an independent state, and fonned ^
constitution.
256. Chrant to WiUiam Penn. Charles the second,
by johart^r dated March 4, 1681, granted to Williao^
Fenn a tract pf land in America, extending from a line
^elve miles northward of Newcastle, tq the forty-third
degree of latitude, and from the Delaware westward
ftve de^es of longitude, Under this grant, he took
possession of the country, purchased the soil of the
natives, introduced a colony of his friends, and called
the tract Pennsylvania. He parceled out his lands at
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blSCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OP N. AMERICA. 107
moderate rente, grave free toleration to all religious sects,
and thus invited a rapid settlement of the province.
1 he property continued in his heirs until the revolution,
when the legislature assumed the government and ter-
ritorial rights, made a compensation fo the proprietor in
money, and Pennsylvania became an independent state.
257. Settlement of North Carolina. The people of
Vii^mia began tjie first plantations Within Carolina by
gradually extending their settlements to the soutiiward
of James Town. As early as the middle of tiie 17tii
century, they had formed settlemente along the Chowan
nver and Albemarle sound ; and falling witllin the limits
of the Carolina grant to the earl of Clarendon and others
in 1663, the proprietors authorized governor Berkeley
to take them under his protection and government.
Accordingly, one Drummond was appointed their gov'
fernor. In 1665, sir J. Yeamans, with a company fioni
Barbadoes, formed a settlement on Cape Fear river.
These were tiie first settiemente witiiin North CaroHna.
258. Settlement of Geargia, In 1732. a number of
benevolent persoiis, in England, formed a design of
beginning a plantation in America, for the fcrpose of
furnishing meaiis df subsistence to many needy people;
and obtained aii act of th^ tfrown, dated June 9th, Tpnkijng
them a corporation for (farrying into effect that object.
In November following^, cWe himdred and sixteen persons
embarked for America, uildet general Oglethorpe, on6
of the trustees. They arrived eaCrly in 1733, at Charles^
ton, and with the aid of governor Johnson, repaired to
the river Savannah, on the bank of which they began
the town of that name. The territory vt%& cafled
Georgia, from the name of the king.
259. Progress of Georgia. The colony was increased
by further emi^tions from Scotland and Germany J
but numerous difficulties attended the first settlements^
and the trustees, weary vvith the oomplainte of the set-
tlers, and not satisfied with the condition of^the colony,
surrendered their charter to the crown in 1752. From
this time, Georgia was under a royal government, thtf
gjovemor being appointed by the king, until the revolur'
tion, when it became an independent state.
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108 BISTORT 0? THfi UNITED 6TATG8.
260. Motives of the first settlers of America, The
Spaniards, who first came to America, were stimulated
by the desire and expectation of finding the precious
metals, gold and silver. So powerful was tliis passion
ibr gold, that the first adventurers encountered every
possible hardship and danger in search of it, and sacn-
pced millions of the wretched natives, whom they
tDmpelled to work in the mines. Very different were
the motives of the settlers of New England, called Pv^
Titans^ who sufiered persecution for their nonconformity,
and determined to seek peace and liberty of conscience
in a wilderness. A similar motive actuated the settlers
of Pennsylvania, and some of the adventurers to Mary*
land and Carolina.
261. Circumstances favorable to the settlers. One
of the most remarkable events, favorable to the first
settlements, was the great destruction of the Indians by
a pestilential disease, resembling the bilious plague,
which raged in the years 1617 and 18 among all the
tribes between the Narraganset and the Penobscot, and
almost ii^opulated the country. Many villages were
stripped of all their inhabitants ; and in many placesL
our forefathers found the bones of such as had been left
miburied. This mortality weakened the strength of the
natives, and probably rendered the survivors less fero-
cious and hostile. To this may be added the destruction
of the natives by the small pox in 1633.
Anotlier favorable circumstance was, the hostility
that existed between difierent tribes; which, in case
of a war, enabled our ancestors to make use of one
tribe for me extermination of another.
QUESTIONS.
175. Who discovered North America 1 what land was fint
diiooTered, and in what yearl
176. From what king dkl Cabot receive his commiadon, and
what did he discover inms second voyage 1
177. What discoveries were made by the French imd Span-
iaidsl *^
178. Who diioovtted the rivw St. Lawienoe. and atttnplsd
to wttls Canada 1
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DISCOTERY AND SETTLEMENT OP N. ABCEBIOA. 100
179. Who settled Acadia, now Nova Scotia 1
180. Give some account of Soto's expedition.
181. 182. Who first settled Carolina, and failed *?
183. What voyages and discoveries were made by Frobisher,
Drake, and Gilbert ?
184. Who made the first grant of Vir^nia~to whom wai it
made, and when 1
185. 186. Who first attempted to settle Yirginia— and wh|^
was the fate of the settlers 1
187. Who first attempted to settle the Elizabeth isles, and
who named Martha's Vineyard 1
188. When and by whom was ihe first grant made of Nova
Scotia?
189. Who discovered Davis's straite 1
190. When was the first grant of Virginia, under which the
colony was settled 1 What companies were fbrmod by the first
charter of Virginia ?
191. When was the London company incorporated, and by
whom?
19a When was Virmnia settled, and by whomi What
place was first settled in Virginia 1
193. When was Bermuda discovered by the English 1
194. When was the third charter of Virginia granted, and
why?
195. Who first attempted to settle in New England 1
196. Who discovered and ilamed the river Hudson ?
197. When and by whcnn were Albany and New York
setUed?
198. When was an attempt first made to settle Newfi}und-
landl
199. When was Bermuda first settled?
200. Who first made a chart of the coast of New England,
and gave it this name 1
201. When and by whom was Baffin's bay discovered ?
202. When and why were the dissenters firom the Elfish
church called Puritans ? To what countries did they flee vom
persecution ?
203. Why were the Puritans divided into CortformiaU and
Puritans ?
204. What was the character of queen Elizabeth, and what
severities did the Puritans suffer in her rei^n 1
205. What was the state of the church ift Efizabeth's reign %
206. Why did the Puritans separate from the Episcopal
church ? Who was their first loader ? Whero £d ibey tek«
leAigel
10
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IIQ HnrroRT of the united states.
006. Whd were the leading men of the Paritan«| who came
to New England 1
909. By whom was Plypoouth in Maesachasetts settled 1
210. When did the Puritans leave Hollandj and what disas-
ten hefell them in the voyage 1
211. Whffli did this company arriye at Plymouth, and what
were their sufferings 1
212. What grain ftoniahed the pilgrims with their princi^
Sllhsistence.
213. When and by whom was a patent of New Englan<l
obtained ? What were the limits 1
214. When and to whom was granted the country which
now comprehends New Hampshire!
315. When was New Hampshire settled ?
216. When and to whom was Nova Scotia granted %
217. When was mount Wollaston, now ^uincy, settled 1
218. When was the charter of Massachusetts granted, and
who was the first governor 1
219. When was Salem settled, and by whoiji 1
220. When was Chariestown settled 1
221. When was Boston settled ?
222. What is the date of the Phrmouth patent 7 How
long did Plymouth continue a colony £stinct from Massachu-
settel
223. Who, besides the English, claimed and first settled on
the banks of the Connecticut river 1
224. When and where did the Eng&h first erect a trading
house on the Connecticut 1
225. When was Wethersfield aettledl
S26. When Wais Windsor settled 1
5828. When and by whom was Hartford settled 1
230. When and by whom wasSaybrook settled 1
231. When and by Whom was !Ncw Haven settled 1
232. When were Milfinrd and Guilford settled?
233. When were Fairfield and Stratford settled 1
234. When was Stan^rd settled 'i
235. When was Saybnx^ annexed to the Connecticut
cdonvl
; 236. When did the colonies confederate for their safety ?
237. When were the eolonies of Comiecticut and New
HaTen united 1
238. When wAi* Plymouth united to Massachusetts 1
230H WKen and by whom was Providence settled 1
S40. When and by whom was Newport settled? '
fl4i. mftn were Warwick, Werteriy, Kingrton, C«it
On«nwich and CoDM^mit aetUed 1
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INDIAN WARS. Ill
84Q. What was the government of Piovidenee^ WhatWM
the date of the fiist chuter of Providence, and who obtained HI
When was the present charter obtained 1
243. Who obtained the first grant of Maine 1 Who first
attempted a settlement in Maine, and wheiel Who diqyuted
the right to trade in Maine 1
244. What Englishman obtained a grant of Maine 1 When
did Maine become a state 1 When ai&lhpw was Maineplaoed
under Massachusetts 1 ^
245. Who obtained a grant of Maryland, and wheni
246. How long did Miuryiand contmne in the iimii^ of told
Baltimore 1 When was the Protestant religion estaUished in
Maryland 1 When was the property restored to the fiunily, and
how lonff did it continue in it 7
247. Who began the settlement of Delaware 1 When did
some fiunilies from New Haven settle in Delaware 1
248. How did Delaware become annexed to Pennsylvania t
249. When did the Duke of York obtain a grant of land in
America, and wh^t lands did it indude 1
250. How was the* grant of New Jersey obtained, and of
whom 1
251. When was the division of New Jersey 1
252. Who obtained a grant of Carolina 1 When was Charles-
ton settled %
254. What calamities did the settlers in Carolina sufier ?
255. '^yiien did the proprietors of Carolina surrender thai
charter 1
256. Who obtained the charter of Pennsylvania, and when 1
Who were the first settlers of Pennsylvania 1
257. Who first settled North Carolina 1
258. Who first settled Greorgia ; in what place, and when 1
260. What were the motives of the Spaniards in settling
America 1 What were the motives of Puritans in migrating
to America 1
261. What circumstances were favorable to the settlen of
New England ?
CHAPTER Vn.
INDIAN WARS.
262. Massacre in Virginia. In the year 1622, the
settlers in Vii^nia lost three hundred and forty-nine of
their numbers by a sudden massacre. The Indians had^
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113 BISTORT OP TBS imtTED 8TATS9.
for some tipie before, lived on very familiar terms with
the English; but in the spring of that year, they se-
cretly plotted to exterminate uie colony. The direct
pccasion was this. A young Indian chief, had murdered
one Morgan, an En^lisnman, for some toys which he was
carrying to sell to the Indians. The English attempted
to seize him, and he making an obstinate resistance, was
killed. To revenge his death, a conspiracy was formed,
and on the 22d of March, the Indians fell on the inhab-
itants who were unprepared, and killed all they found.
This compelled the people to abandon most of their
.plantations and retire to James Town. The conse^
quence of this massacre was a furious and unrelenting
war, in which the savages were slain without mercy.
263. Principal Indian tribes in New England, The
settlers at Plymouth and Massachusetts had no trouble
with the Indians in their neighborhood, for many years.
But westward of the Narraganset bay. Uvea many
powerful tribes, which had not been reduced by the
malignant fever. These were the Narragansets who
possessed the country between the river of that name
and the Paucatuc, which territory is now a part of
Rhode Island — the Pequots, a warlike nation, inhabiting
the territory between Paucatuc and the Connecticut,
now a part of Connecticut, by the names of Stonington
and Groton — the Mohegans, who resided on the west of
the river Mohegan, and owned the land, now a part of
New London and Norwich. Of these the Pequots were
the most warlike, ferocious, and formidable to the other
tribes, with whom they were often at war. ,
264. Occasion of the Peqifot war. In the year 1634,
the Pequots killed captain Stone and all his compan-
ions, being seven in number, who were bound up the
Connecticut, merely for compelling two of the nation
to be their guides. In 1636, captain Oldham was killed
at Block Island, where he went to trade. Some others
were killed the same year ; and in April, 1637, a party
of Indians went up the Connecticut in canoes, and sur-
prising a number of persons in Wethersfield, as they
were going into the field, killed nine, and took twq
ydung women prisoners. These murders called upon
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INDIAN WARS. US
the inhabitants to take measures for their safety, and it
was determined to make war on the Pequots.
265. Beginning and progress of the war. The
murder of captain Oldham induced Massachusetts to
send ninety men under general Endicott, to reduce the
Indians on Block Island, and then to demand of the
Pequots, the murderers of captain Stone, and a thou-
sand fathom of wampum, by way of satisfaction, with
some of their children as hostages. In October 1636,
they landed on the isle, and the Indians fled, but their
wigwams were all destroyed. The party then sailed to
the Pequot country, where they could not effect their
purposes, and after burning a number of huts, they re-
turned. The expedition from Massachusetts gave
offense to the settlers at Plymouth and Connecticut ;
who complained to the ffovemor that it would exaspe-
rate the savages, without oeing of any use towards sub-
duing them. But the continued murders of the Pequots,
induced all the colonies, the next year, to unite m an
expedition against them.
266. Destruction of the Peqitots. In April, 1637,
the Connecticut people sent letters to the government
of Massachusetts, expressing their dissatisfaction at the
expedition of the former year ; but urging a continuance
of the war to a more decisive conclusion. Preparations
accordingly were made in all the colonies. But Con-
necticut was beforehand in executing the design ; for
early in May, captain Mason, with ninety men from
Hartford^ Wethersfield and Windsor, went down the
river, being joined by captain Underhill at Saybrook,
and by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, the enemy of
the Pequots. Sailing round to the Narraganset shore,
they landed, and being joined by five hundred Indians
of th^t tribe, who wished to see the Pequots extermina-
ted, they marched by moonlight to the Pequot fort,
and attaaiked it by surprise. Captain Mason entered,
set fire to the huts, and slew or took most of the Indiana,
amounting to six or seven hundred, with the loss of
pnly two of his own men. Those who escaped, fled
and took refuge in a swamp now in Fairfield. A body
of men, being joined by the troops from Massaehusett-
10*
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114 BISTORT OF THE WfTED STATEfi.
under captain Stoughton, ptiraiaed them, killed some^
took others and dispersed the rest, so that the tribe be*
eame extinct.
267. Philip's war. In the year 1675, Philip, sachem
of the Waropanoa^s, who lived at mount Hope, in the
present town of Bristol, in Rhode Island, began a war,
the most general and clestnictive ever sustained by the
infant colonies. It is supposed that he was induced to
undertake it^ by a desire of exterminating the EngUsh,
The immediate cause was this. An Indian had made a
discovery of his plots, for which Philip caused him to
be dain. The murderers were tried and executed by
the finglish. Philip soon commenced his hostile attacks
on the English, and by his agents, drew into the war
most of the tribes in New England.
^. Progress of the war. On the I8th of July, the
finglish forces attacked the Indians at Pocasset Neck,
now Tiverton, drove them into a swamp, but were
obliged to retreat with a loss of fifteen men. At the
close of the month, Brookfield was burnt, except one
house which was defended by the people, until they had
relief. After which Deerfield was burnt. Nortnfield
was abandoned to the savages, after a number of its
inhabitants had been killed ; captain Beers, attempting
to succor the town, being slain with twenty of his men.
The 18th of September was a fatal day ; for captain
Lathrop, and eighty men, the flower of Essex county,
while guarding some carts which were conveying com
from Deerfield to Hadley, were surprised, and almost
every man slain. This melancholy event was soon
followed by the destruction of a considexable part of
Springfiela. Hadley was assaulted, but relieved by
major Treat, of Connecticut.
3^ Attacks on tlie Narragansets. The English
had endeavored to secure the friendship of the Narra-
gansets ; and to prevent them from joining Philip, had
formed a treaty with them, July 15, 1675. But it was
well known that they secretly aided the hostile Indians,
and it was determined to reduce them by a winter ex-
pedition. For this piupose, about a inousand men,
Ijpder governor Winslow, marched late m December,
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INDIAN WARS. 115
wading in deep snow, and attacked the fort of the enemy.
The Narragansets were furjiished with muskets, and
made havoc with the assailants, especially among the
officers who first entered the fort, most of whom were
killed. Six captains and eighty men were killed ; one
hundred and fifty were wounded ; and all suffered in-
credihly from frozen limbs and other hardships. But
the success was complete ; two or three hundred of the
Indians were slain, all their huts burnt, and the country
ravaged.
27^). Progress of the war in 1676. About the 10th
of February, a party of savages burnt Lancaster, and
killed or took prisoners forty of the inhabitants, among
which was the family of the n^inister, Mr. Rowlandson.
Ten days after, they attacked Medfield, early in the
morning, and so suddenly, that, although garrisoned,
they burnt nearly one half of the town, and slew many
of the inhabitants. On the 26th of March, captain
Pierce, and fifty men from Plymouth, were slain near
Pautuxet A great part of Marlborough was burnt on
the same day, and "NVarwick was laid in ashes on the
|7th of the sanae month. About forty houses and thirty
bams were burnt on the 28th following, in Rehoboth j
and the next day, Providence was attacked, and thirty
houses burnt. Many other places suffered in a less
degree.
271. Success of the English, The tide of victory
now began to turn. In April, captain Denison, of
Stonington, collected forty-seven volunteers and a party
of friendly Indians, attacked the savages, and took theur
sachem prisoner^ and killed forty-five, without the loss
of a man. This sachem, called Cononchet, was the
son of Miantinomo, an insolent chief of the Narragansets,
and was an unrelenting enemy. He was beheaded at
Stonington. Captain Denison repeated his expeditions
and kiUed many savages. The latter, however, con-
tinued to kill and destroy, wherever they came ; and
many towns suffered a loss of people and property.
Captain Wadsworth, with fifty men, oetween Sudbury
and Marlborough, was decoyed into b, wood, and slain
'with almost all his men. But the English were very
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116
mSTORT OF THB UNITED STATES.
actire in hunting them, and finally drove Philip to his
former residence at mount Hope, where he was killed
by a shot from a friendly Indian under captain Church
on the 12th of August, 1676. This fortunate event put
an end to the war.
DEATH OP KING PHILIP.
272. Effects of this war. The colonies in New
Enffland, in the year 1675, contained from thirty -five
to mrty thousand mhabitants, and their militia between
seven and eight thousand men. Of these, about six
hundred fell in the war^ besides many women and
children. Twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed,
and many others lost a part of their buildings. Six
hundred buildings, mostly dwelling houses, were con-
sumed, many cattle killed, and a heavy debt contracted.
Connecticut suffered less than the other colonies, and it
is remarkable that the Mohegans, from the first settle-
ment of the colony, remained in friendship with the
English, and were very useful to them in their wars.
In consequence of their fidelity, they have been protected
by the government ; their property has been secured to
them, and is still in possession of the tribe*
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INDIAN WARS. 117
273. War in king William's reign. On the access
of William, prince pf Orange, to the throne of England,
a war broke out between England and France ; and as
Canada then belonged to J'rance, the French instigated
the Indians to hostilities against the colonies. Aoody
of French and Indians, from Montreal, attacked Sche-
nectady, in the ni^ht of February 8, 1690, when the
unsuspecting inhabitants were at rest, killed sixty, and
took twenty prisoners. They also set fire to the houses,
killed most of the cattle and horses, and marched off
with the remainder of the horses laden with plunder.
Those of the people who escaped, fled naked towards
Albany, amidst the snow, in a severe night, twenty of
whto lost their limbs by the frost. The horror and
sufferings of the inhabitants were beyond the powers
pf description.
274. Indian depredations in New Hampshire and
Maine. The inhabitants in the eastern part of New
England had suffered greatly in Philip's war, but were
severely harrassed and desolated from the year 1690 to
1698. The brave and venerable major Waldron, and
twenty-two others, were taken by surprise and slain,
and their houses burnt. The plantation at Salmon
Falls, in New Hampshire, was surprised and burnt on
the 18th of March, 1690; thirty men were slain, an4
the women and children were made captives. The fort
and settlement at Casco were destroyed in May follow-
ing. Continual murders of the people, and destruction
of buildings, alarms and distresses, induced the inhabi-
tants to abandon the most defenseless parts of the
eountryj and retire to garrisoned towns. Nor did these
calamities cease, till the peace between France and
England, in 1608, when Frontenac, the French com-
mander in Canada, ceased to instigate the savages.
275. War in queen AnrCs reign. In 1702, war was
proclaimed between England and France, and the
American colonies were again exposed to Indian ravages.
Deerfield was surprised and burnt, and most of the in-
habitants carried captive, February 28, 1704. New
Hampshire, and especially Maine, was exposed ta the
inroads of ferocious savages, who continued evpry year
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118 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
to alann or massacre the people, and bum their dwellings.
The peace of Utrecht, signed March 30, 1713, put an
end to these calamities, and from that time the growmg
population of New England secured the inhabitants
from similar distresses. Wonderful was the patience,
fortitude, self-denial, and bravery, of our ancestors, in
settling, cultivating, and defending this goodly heritage
which we enjoy !
276. Title of our ancestors to the soil of this country.
The inhabitants which our fathers found in America,
though savage tribes, which subsisted principally by
huntmg and fishing, were considered as the rightful
owners of the soil, and treated as such. Although the
English first landed on their territory without their
consent, yet they were careful to acquire a just title to
the lands by fair purchase from the possessors. Our
ancestors bought almost all the lands for a valuable
consideration, though generally small ; and the deeds
are registered among the records of the colonies. Ha<|
it not been for the French in Canada, who, during th^
wars between England and France, instigated th^
savages to seek the blood and property of the English,
it is probable our forefathers would h?ive escaped most
of the wars with the Indians, and their distressing
consequences. TJie power of tne French, in Canada,
to injure the colonies, was happily destroyed by the
reduction of Quebec, by the forces und^r general Wolfe,
in 1758, and the conquest of the whole province or
Canada,
277. Division among the different tribes. When
this country was first planted, the Indians, like other
nations, were often at war among themselves. The
Pequots were terrible to their neighbors ; and the Mo-
hegans and Narragansets joyfully assisted the English
to exterminate them. In Philip's war, the English
were assisted also by a number of friendly Indians.
The five nations west of Albany were very useful in
aiding the settlers to check the incursions of the Canada
tribes under French influence. The first settlements
in Carolina, which might have beep easily destroyed,
were secured and left to thrive, by means of a bloody
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t
INDIAN WARS. 119
war between the two neighboring tribes, which nearly
^in^shed both. While we may rejoice at sucn
divisions which were favorable to our ancestors, in the
infant state of the colonies, yet we are to learn from
them the great danger to a people from disunion. No*
thing renders the conquest of a country so easy, as dis-
onion and controversies among the inhabitants.
278. War against the T%8carora8. In the year
1712. the Tuscaroras, a considerable nation of Indians
on tne frontiers of North Carolina, with some other
tribes, made war on the infant settlements in that colony,
and threatened it with extirpation. Their first inroad
w^is kept so secret, that they fell on the unsuspecting
planters by ^rprise, killing all without mercy. About
Roanoke, one hundred and thirty-seven persons were
slain in one night, among whom were most of the
Germans, who had then lately arrived. Grovemor
Craven, of South Carolina, as soon as he heard of this
lot, sent colonel Barnwell against the savages^ at the
-lead of six hundred men, and a body of Indians of
other tribes. Marching through a Wildemess, colonel
Barnwell surrounded the Indians in their own town,
slew nlany of them, and Compelled the remainder to
ask for peace. Such of the Tuscaroras as escaped,
abandoned tiieir country, Settled among the Five Na-
tions ; and added a sixth tribe, so that they afterwards
were called the Sia: Nations.
279. Conspiracy of the Yamasees. The sduthetn
border of South Carolina, along the Savannah, was
inhabited by a numerous and powerful tribe of Indians,
called Yamasees. These hved, for many years, in
friendship with the Carolinians ; but in 1715, instigated,
it was believed, by the Spaniards of Florida, they
formed a general conspiracy of all the neighDoring
tribes, to destroy the English settlements. Not les»
than six or seven thousand warriors of the Congarees,
Catawbas^ Cherokees, Yamasees, and other tribes, were
engaged m this plot. On the 15th of April, at day-
break, they began their horrid work of massacre and
tcNTture, and ninety persons, who went to Pocotaglio,
one of their towns, to trade, or were in the neighboring
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1&) HISTOiiY OP THE UNITED STATES.
plantations, fell yictims to the first attack. The Indians
approached within a few miles of Charleston, (
, destroying
aU the people who had not escaped to that town.
^0. Defeat of the Indians. At that time, Charleston
could muster but twelve hundred men fit to bear arms ;
but governor Craven took vigorous measures ; laying
an embargo, proclaiming martial law, and procuring an
adt of assembly, authorizing him to impress men, stores,
and ammunition, he marched against the savages, and
found the main body of them in their great camp, at a
Elace called the Saltcatchers. There a sharp and bloody
attle ensued, but the Carolinians repulsed the barba-
rians, and closely pursuing them, drove them beyond
the Savannah river, where they were received by the
Spaniards. The colony being thus delivered from most
imminent danger^ the troops returned, and were received
with unboun ded joy. The savages remained vind ictivcj
and frequently made incursion? into the English planta-
tions, exercising their usual barbarities ; but never was
Carolina again exposed to equal danger.
QUESTIONS.
262. When was the massacre in Virginia, and what the
dausel
263. Which were the. most formidable tribes of Indians in.
,Wew England 1
264. What was the occasion of the war with the Pequots?
265. Who first made war on the Pequots 1
266. Who destroyed the Pequots, and vrhea ?
267. When did Philip's war commence % What was the
immediate cause 1
268. What towns were burnt by the Indians 1 Where was
captain Lathrop's company destroyed 1
269. Who attacked the Narragansets 1 Where wm the
attack made, and what was the event?
270. What towns were burnt in 1676 1
271. What put an end to this war "?
272. What were the losses of the English in Philip's war 1
273. When, and in what war, -^wb ^henectady destroyed 1
274. What were the calamkies of New Hampahire and
Miine m the Indian wani
375. When was Deerfield burnt ?
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POLITICAL ETENnC 121
Sf76. What title did our ancestors obtain to their lands 1
Wno instiffated the savages to make war upon the Enelith 1
STB. When was the war with the Tuscarorasf Who
defeated them, and what was the event 1
279. When did the Yamasees con^iie against the English 1
280, Who defeated the Indians 1
CHAPTER VIIL
POLITICAL EVENT&
281. Political history of the colonies. The charters
granted to the first planters of New England gave them
ample powers of government. The freemen elected
their own ffovernors, comicils, and representatives ; by
whom all laws were enacted, subject, however, to be
abrogated by the king and council, if found repugnant
to the laws of England. But the numerous emigrations
to America soon alarmed the English government, and
repeated orders were issued by the king to restrain such
emigrations. Mauy jealousies and controversies also
arose among those concerned in the plantations, and
numerous complaints were made of the disorderly con-
duct of the settlers, thei* Encroachment on other patents,
and their arbitrary proceedings. The principal author
of these complaints against the Massachusetts colony
was John Mason. In 1634, the king and council had
been induced, by these complaints, to issue an order
requiring the colony to send their charter to England.
On consultation, the governor and magistrates gave
answer that this could not be done, without the direction
of the general court, which was to be held in September
following.
283. Surrender of the patent of the PlymouUi com-
pony. The council of Plymouth, being dissatisfied
with the proceedings of some of the company, and
especially with the Massachusetts colony, which, as
they alledged, had extended their jurisdiction too far,
and rendered themselves independent of the eompanyy
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resigned their grant to the crown by an act dated June
11, 1636. In 1696, the king issued an Order of pnrocess
against Massachusetts, demanding the liuthority by
which the colony exercised the powers of goverhnlent ;
and though not served on any person in New Englahd,
jud^ent was rendered against the colony. In '1638,
Aprd 8, the king and council sent an express order that
the colony should deliver up their patent. This was
not obeyed, but an answer returned with a petition,
statinp^ that the process had not been served on them ;
that they had settled under the authority of their patent ;
and if (N)liged to resign it, they must remove to some
other place, and the country would fall into the hands
of the Dutch or French* No answer was returned, and
the troubles in England prevented a further demand.
283* Plan of a general government, Grorges and
Mason, the enemies of the Massachusetts colony, were
Che principal instruments in procuring the surrender of
the Plvmouth patent. Their plan was to procure a
surrender of all the patents, and torm the whole northern
part of America into twelve provinces, with a general
governor over the whole. This plan was nearly matured
m the year 1635 ; but by the death of Mason, the winter
following, it was frustrated. The colonies, however,
were held in a state of alarm, for many years, appre-
hending a loss of their patents, and a subjection to the
arbitrary proceedings of the king and the high commis-
sion court.
284. Dissolution of the charter of Ma^sachtLseits.
The controversies between the heirs of Grorges and
Mason, and the Massachusetts colony, respecting the
boundaries of their patents, gave rise to many complaints
against the colony; and in 1676, Edward Randolph
was sent from England, by the king's authority, to
inquire into the state of the colonies and the grounds
of complaint. The colony sent agents to England;
the parties were heard; Grorges was secured m his
claim to Maine, and the colony purchased his property.
The claims of Mason were also adjusted. But Randolph
made continual complaints against the colony for vio-
lating the laws of trade, coining money, and the like*
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THe colony appointed agents to make answer to these
eomplaints ; but without success. The king and council
weie prejudiced ajgainst the colony, and in 1683 issued
an order, demanding that the colony should answer to
the charges against them. After deliberatioiL the
representatives declined to appear and make defense.
Of course, in 1685, judgment was rendered against the
colony, and th«iir charter was declared to be vacated.
285. Proceedings against the other cdonies. Similar
cnrders were issued against other colonies. Rhode Island
iissembly submitted to his majesty's pleasure, and agreed
to surrender their charter, which was accepted in 1684.
Plymouth, expecting to be compelled to resign their
patent sent a copy of it to the long, with an address
full of expressions of loyalty, and praying for the grant
of a charter. No further proceedings were had against
Plymouth. In July, 1685, process was issued by the
king and council against Uonnecticut. In July, 1686,
die assembly of the colony agreed upon an address to
his majesty, in which they besought hitn to recall the
writ a^inst them, entreated his pardon for any faults
in their government, and requested the continuance of
. the charter.
286. Singular preservation of the charter of Con-
necticut, When the writ of quo warranto arrived,
^ Connecticut sent Mr. Whiting as an agent to negotiate
for the preservation of their colonial charter and rights.
But in vain ; for the king and council had determmetj
to vacate all the charters, and unite the colonies to the
. crown, under a governor of royal appointment. Sir
Edmund Andross was appointed the first governor
general oveT New England, and arrived at Boston in
December, 1686. Soon after his arrival, he wrote to
. Connecticut to resign thfeir charter ; but without success.
»In October, 1687, while the assembly was in session,
governor Andross arrived at Hartford with a company
of troops, and demanded a surrender of the charter.
One evening, while the principal oflScer* of government
were debating with Andross on the subject, and many
people were collected, a garment was suddenly thrown
^ver the candles, by which they were extinguished, ar'^
136 HISTORY OP THK ONITEO STATES.
Long Island and the Delaware. The English com-,
plained also that the Dutch sold arms and amuuition to.
the Indians; and tor many years mutual accusationa
passed between the parties. In 1650. Mr. Stuyvesant, ,
the Dutch governor went to Hartford, being inrited to
an amicable agreement with the commissioners of the
colonies. He there made claim to the lands on the west
of the Connecticut by grant and by purchase from the
natives and demanded a Surrender of them. The com-,
missioners replied and manifested their title by charter,
purchase and possession.
292. Result of the cor^erence. After much alterca-
tion, the parties agreed to sulnnit their claims and diflfer-
ences to arbitrators^ who on the 19th of September, 1650,
came to the following determination. That as most or
the complaints and subjects of dispute arose under tho
preceding;^vemor of Manhattan, Mr. Kieft, tliey would
not come to a full conclusion, until Mr. Stuyvesant had
made a representation of the facts to the company in
Holland under whom he acted. With respect to the
claims of New Haven and the Dutch to the land on the
Delaware, then called South river, they declined a de-
cision for want of evidence on the part of the Dutch.
But they determined that the boundary between the
English and Dutch, on Long Island, should be a strait
line across the isle from the westermost part of Oyster
bay ; and on the main land, a line running from the west
side of Greenwich bay, northerly twenty mile*, into the
country, provided it snould not come within <^n miles
of tlie Hudson. The Dutch were permitted to libld their
fort and lands in Hartford, and the remainder of the
lands on both sides of the Connecticut, was adjudged to
the English.
293. Subseqiient disputes with tJie Dutch. After this
award, the New Haven people attempted again to es-
tablish themselves on the Delaware ; but they were
prevented by the Dutch, who arrested the messengers
sent to give notice of tnis resolution to the governor.
The New Haven people petitioned the commissioners
of the united colonies to redress their injuries and
maintain their rights. The commissionsrs remonstnt^.
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ied to^the Dutch governor, but without success. In 1653,
<the commissioners held an extraordinary meeting, on
account of information that the Dutch had formed a plot
.against the English, and were instigating the Indians to
commit hostilities. The evidence of such a plot con-
vinced all the commissioners, except those ot Massa-
clittsetts, who opposed a war with the Dutch. Stuyve-
«ant denied the plot and offered to prove his innocence.
But no satisfactioti was given, and men were raised for
,an expedition against the Dutch. The next spring, in
1654, orders were received from Cromwell to treat the
Dutch as enemies, and a fleet was sent with forces to
act against them in America. But the defeat of the
Dutch fleet under Admiral Tromp in Europe, put an
«^d to the war, ^nd little was. done in America, except
the taking of the Dutch fort at Hartford.
294. Disputes after Connecticut obtained a charter.
After the restoration of the royal government in Eng-
land, in 1660, Connecticut omained a charter which
covered the colony of New Haven and extended her
limits to the goutn sea. This extension of her claims
Wfe§tward on Lons Island and in West Chester, in con-
sequence of this charter, alarmed Gov. Stuyvesant, who
sedt agents to Connecticut in 1663, to treat with the le-
gislature on the subject. The assembly resolved, for
the sake of peace, to forbear the exercise of authority on
the west end of Lon^ Island, provided the Dutch should
not molest the English plantations, which petitioned to
be under the government of Connecticut, and which had
been received. About the same time the assembly au-
thorized Thomas Pell to purchase from the Indians the
ijknd between West Chester and the Hudson, as far
iSouth as Haerlem creek. The patent to the duke of
York of the Dutch possessions in America, granted
March 12^ 1664, was followed by an armament under
colonel Nichols, which reduced them all to subjection
to the crown of England, and released the colonies from
further apprehensions from the Dutch.
295. Boundaries between Connecticut and New York.
After colonel Nichols had subdued New Netherlands,
^uid giv9n it the present ^eime, Kew York, he and his
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128 HISTORY or THE CNITRO STATfeft.
ftssociate^, appointed by the crown, met with the agents
appointed by Connecticut, and on tlic 5th of December,
1664, determined the boundary of their rcFpective ju-
risdictions to bo, a line beginning on the east side of
Maroneck river or creek, at the place where the salt
water meets the fresh, at high water, and thence north
northwest to the line of Massachusetts. They deter-
mined also the whole of Long Island to be undet the
jurisdiction of the duke of Yonc, according to his char-
ter ; so that the New England colonies lost the posses-
sion of that isle.
296. Proceedings after the war itith the Dutch, In
March 1672, king Charles declared war against the
states of Hoiymd, and in the following summer, a
Dutch force arrived at New York and took possession of
it. The inhabitants of Delaware submitted to the
Dutch, but the colony of Connecticut took measures of
defense, and opposed the demands of the Dutch who
required the people of Long Island to submit to their
goverment, and take an oath of allegiance to the states
of Holland. The Dutch attempted to subdue the j^le
and some of the western towns of the colony, but were
repelled. In February 1674, peace took place between
the powers at war ; by which New York was restored
to the English. To prevent all dispute, about his title,
the duke of York tooK a new patent of his territories in
America, dated June 29, 1674, and committed the go-
vernment of them to sir Edmond Andross.
297. Andross* proceedings towards Connecticut. Sir
Edmond, by virtue of the patent to the duke of York,
claimed the land on the west side of the Connecticut,
to the prejudice of the Connecticut charter, and in vio-
lation of the agreement of 1664. To enforce his claims,
he attempted m 1675 to take the fort at Saybrook ; an4
after making a show of his force, he requested a confer-
ence, which •was granted. Attempting to read his com-
mission and the Duke's patent, captain Bull, who com-
manded the fort, forbad the reading, and directed his
•lerk to read the protest of Connecticut against his pro-
ceedings. At this manly conduct sir Edmond was so
much pleased that on hearing the officer's name to b«
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POLmCAL fiVENT& 129
BuU, be declared his ''horns ought to be tipped with
silver." Finding the colony resolute, he gave up his
design and sailed to Long Island.
2^. Settlementof the line between Connecticut and
New York, In 16w3, colonel Dungan arrived at New
York, in character of governor. In November, the Ge-
neral Court of Connecticut appointed a committee to
congratulate him on his arrival, and settle the boundary
between the two governments. On the 28th of Novem-
ber of the same year^ the agents came to an agreement,
that the line of partition sTiould begin at Byram river,
at a point called Lyon's point, where the river falls into
the sound, and run northerly at not less than twenty
miles distance from the Hudson, to the south line of
Massachusetts. This agreement was confirmed by the
legislature of Connecticut in May 1684. and the lines
were in part run and ratified February 24. 1685, by go-
vernor Dungan and governor Treat. Tnis agreement
was confirmed by king William, March 28, 170Q»
Fiurther progress was made in running the line in 1731,
when the lines were established, as they now exist. In
this settlement New York ceded to Connecticut a tract
of land on the sound, called Greenwich, which was set^
tied by English people who choose to be annexed ta
Connecticut; and in return, Connecticut ceded to New
York, sixty thousand acres of much better land, now
called the Oblong.
299. Line between Massachusetts and Connecticut,
The south line of Massachusetts, according to charter
runs west from a point three miles south of the most
southerly branch of Charles river and every part of it :
and the north line of Connecticut is the south line of
Massachusetts. When Mr. Pynchon settled Springfield,
and the first plantaticms were made in Connecticut, in
lOSSj it was not known whether the territory would fall
withm the limits of Massachusetts or not. But Mr.
Pynchon at first considered himself as belonging to the
jurisdiction of the Connecticut plantations. In 164^.
Massachusetts employed two surveyors, Woodward anil
Saffery^ to run the hne between the colonies. These
pretended to ascertain the south line on Charles river,
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130 BISTORT OF THE UNITED 8TATK9.
and then sailing round and going up the Connecticut^
they aUempted to fix the line there, in the same latitude*
But either through inattention or tne use of bad instru*
ments, they determined the line to fall in WindscM*,
many miles south of the true line.
3C0. Measures taken for ascertaining the boundary,
Connecticut was dissatisfied with the determination of
Woodward and Safiery, and made repeated proposals to
Massachusetts for a mutual adjustment of the contro-
vers^r, which were ineffectual. In 1694, a committee
appointed by Connecticut, run the line and found the
former survey very erroneous. In this situation, the in-
habitants of Sufiield and Enfield, who settled under
the claims and jurisdiction of Massachusetts, continued
to encroach upon Windsor and Sim^ury, which excited
warm animosities. In the year 1706, further attempts
were made to procure an amicable settlement of tne
dispute ; the line was run by conmiissioners of both co-
lonies, in 1702, and found to fall far north of the former
line ; but Massachusetts disagreed to their report. In
1708, Connecticut appointed commissioners with fuu
powers to mn the line and establish the boundary ; and
resolved that unless Massachusetts would unite to com-
plete the business, they would apply to the crown.
301. Settlement of the boundary between Massachth
setts and Connecticut. Massachusetts did not agree at
once to the proposal of Connecticut 5 but in 1713, com-
missioneis were appointed oil the part of both colonies,
who came to api agreement on the 13th of July. On
runinng the line, it was found to fall north of Enfield,
Suf&eld, and Woodstock, which of course came within
the lurisdiction of Connecticut. As an equivalept for
tjb.e land which had been taken from Connecticut by
encroachments, Massachusetts granted a tract of l^nd
in the western part of that colony, which, in 1716, was
gold for two thousand two hundred ana seventy-four
dollars, which sum was applied to the use of Yale col-
lege. This agreement, however, was not considered
as conclusive and satisfactory ; nor was the boundaiy
between the two states definitely settled till May. 1804.
dOZ* Rhode Island, By the original patent or po||«
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^— -'' . Political events. 18i
necticut, giftnted by the earl of Warwick to lord Say
and others, dated March 19th, 1631, th^ eastern limit
of the colony was Narraganset river. In the charter
of 1662, the same river was made the eastern boundary
of the colony. In March, 1643, the planters at Proyi-
denee and Newport obtained from the earl of Warwick
and the commissioners of plantations, a charter of in-
corporation, with powers of government ; but the boun-^
danes of tneir jurisdiction were not defined. In the
following year, some of the planters applied to the
commissioners of the united colonies, to be received
under the gof ernftient of on^ of the eolonies ; and re-
ceived for answer, that if the major part of the' land-'
holders would, without reservation submit, either
Massachusetts or Plymouth might receive them.
303. Determination of the colonies concerning'
Bhode IsUvnd, At a meeting of the commissioners of
the colonies, held at Plymouth, in September, 1648, an
application was received from the Rhode Islanders to be
received into the confederacy ; but the commissioners
replied, that upon perusal of the Plymouth patent, they
found Rhode Island to be within that patent, which
they had no right to abridge ; and that great confusions
and disturbance existed among tne inhabitants ; yet, if
they would acknowledge themselves within the juris-
diction of Plymouth, they would be received into the
union and protected. ^But they never consented, and
maintained a distinct civil govemmment.
304. Extension of the hounds of Providence planta-
tions. The comtnissioners appomte^y Charles 2d to
settle disputes between the colonies^ at the head of
whom was colonel Nichols, determined, that as the
Narragansets had, in 1644, suomitted to become subjects
of the crown of England, their country also belonged
to the crown. They ordered the purchasers to remove
from the lands, and arbitrarily extended the bounds of
the province to Paucatuc river. In 1661, the united
colonies remonstrated with the government of Rhode
Island, against the intrusions of their pepple upon lands
Bear Paucatuc and the Pequot country, tvhich had been
conquered by the joint arms of Massachuse^ and Con-
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necdcot^ and had been located and disposed oL Fwe^
qaent duputeir arose between Connecticut and Rhode
Island.
305. Charter limiU of Rhode Island. In the charter
S -anted to Rhode Island and Providence plantations, by
harles 2d, dated July 8, 1663, the colony was bounded
west on Paucatuc river, north on Massachusetts, and
east by the west line of Plymouth colony, alonk the
east side of Seekonk river to Patucket tails. This
charter included the lands to the Narraj^anset river,
which had been included in the old patent oi Connecticat
in 1632, and which, the king had, the yesur before, con-
finned by charter to Connecticut. This occasioned
great uneasiness and controversies. Rhode Island
pleaded, in justification, an agreement between Mr.
Winthrop and Mr. Clark, in England, dated March 7th,
1663, by which Mr. Winthrop, as a^ent for Connecticut
consented that Paucatuc should be the boundary between
the colonies.
306. Conquest of the Narraganaets. and the final
settlement of the boundary. In 1676, the forces of the
united colonies subdued the Narragansets, and took
possession of their country. The Rhode Islanders had
not assisted in the conquest, and Connecticut, rejecting
the agreement of Mr. Winthrop, as void, for want or
authority, determined to settle and govern the country.
In consequence of these disputes, commissioners were
appointed by king Charles, April 7th, 1683, to inquire
into the claims ofthe parties. On the 20th of October,
they reported thkt the Narraganset country, of righL
belonged to Connecticut. T his report was not confirmea
by the kingj and the controversy continued many years^
when a spirit of conciliation induced Connecticut to
appoint a committee to make an amicable settlement
of the controversy. On the 12th of May, 1702, the
agents of the two colonies agreed, and confirmed the
Ime between them, to be Paucatuc river, from the sea
to the mouth of Ashaway ; thence a straight line to the
south-west comer of Warwick; and thence a north
line to Massachusetts. This line was run in 1728, and
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tOUTICkL ETS1IT8. 133
ftmains ^e fxHiikdaiy between the states of Connecticut
and Rhode Island.
307. Eastern boundary between MoBeachusetU and
RJtode Island, The colony of Rhode Island was
bounded, by charter, on the west line of Plymouth.
After Plymouth was annexed to Massachusetts, in 10^,
disputes arose concerning the boundary between that
colony and Rhode Island, which were not finally ter-
minated till about the year 1740, when commissioners
were appointed to settle the boundary. To the surprise
of Massachusetts, the line was determined to be east
of Bristol, Tiverton,' and several other towns, which
had always been considered as within Plymouth or
Massachusetts, but which were now annexea to Rhode
Island. Massachusetts appealed to the crown, but
without effect. The line Was established, and now
remains the boundary between the two states.
308. Government of New Hampshire. The first
plantations on the Pascataqua were oegun uoder grants
to Mason and Gorges, before the date of the Massachu-
setts charter. Other settlements were made under a
purchase from the Indians. The planters, having no
form or powers of government from the crown, united
and formed regulations for their government, and for
some time, their governor was appk>inted by the i)roprie*
tors in England. In 1641, they formally submitted to
the government of Massachusetts, and continued subject
to it, until the year 1675, when the heirs of Mason and
Gorges revived their claims, which had been suffered
to lie dormant, and demanded their property and right
of government. Upon a heaVing of the parties, it was
determined by the judges of England, that the towns
on the Pascataqua were not within the bounds of Mas-
sachusetts. Accordingly, on the 18th of September,
1679, a commission passed the great seal, erectmg New
Hampshire into a separate and royal government.
309. Boundarres between Massa4:hiisetts and New
Hampshire. For many years after this separation^ a
controversy subsistecl between those colonies, relative
to their respective boundaries. At length, in 1737,
commiMioiiera duly appointed, hftTing heard the parti««
12
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134 HI3T0BT OP THB UNITED STATES.
and considered their claims, made a report which was
disagreeable to both. The parties appealed to the king
and coimcU, who, in 1739. decided that the line between
the colonies on the soutn of New Hampshire, should
nm three miles north of the Merrimac, from the sea to
a point due north of Pautucket falls ; then a due west
course to his majesty's other governments. On the
north, a line along the middle of Pascataqua and the
Salmon Falls river, to the farthest head of the same,
extending one hundred and twenty miles from Pascata-
qua harlK>r, was established as the boundary between
New Hampshire and Maine. These are tne present
boundaries.
310. Vermont, That tract of land which lies on the
west side of Connecticut river, between the north line
of Massachusetts and Canada, remained a wilderness,
till about the yrear 1750. Tbe charters an4 grants ot
New Hampshire did not extend to the Connecticut ;
but after the settlement of the line between that colony
and Massachusetts, in 1739, a line which was run in
1741, the colony oi New Hampshire began to extend
her claims westward as far as the east line of New
York, which is twenty miles from the Hudson. Fort
Dummer had been bmlt in 1724, for a protection against
the savages; it. was supposed at that time, to be in
Massachusetts, but on running the line, it fell to the
north of that colony, and New Hampshire considered
it as within her jurisdiction. The place is now in the
town of Brattletiproughj in Vermont.
311. First locations in Vermont. In 1749, Benning
Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire, granted a
township on the west, and adjoining to the colony of
Kew York, which he called Bennington. This is the
oldest town in that state. For many years he continued
to grant townships on the west side of the Connecticut,
and the territory thus acquired the name of New Hamp-
shire grants, tinder these grants, settlements were
made with surprising rapidity ; especially after the con-
quest of Canada in 1760. Abouf this time, New York
began to assert her claim to this tract of land, under
the clause of the grant to the duke of York, which spe-
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POLITICAL BVENTS. 135
cified the lands cm the west side of the Connecticut^
and in 1763, governor Golden issued a proclamation,
asserting that claim. In 1764, the governor of New
Hampshire issued a proclamation, asserting the claims
of that colony to the same territoiy.
312. Progress of the controversy. The government
of New York applied to the crown^ and m 1764, an
order wais obtained, in which his majesty dedared the
Connecticut to be the boundary between. New Hamp
shire and New- York, which was considered by New
York, as a decision that the territory belonged to that
colony. In consequence of which, the government of
New York proceeded to divide the territory into coun-
ties, ereqt courts, and grant lands. The grants made
by New Hampshire, vrem declared to be invalid, and
the grantees were required to surrender them, and take
new grants iihder New York. Actions of ejectment
were brought, and judgment recovered against the oc-
cupants. Some of the inhabitants complied with the
requisitions ; and many refused. Controversies suc-
ceeded, which ended in opposition to the sherif of Al-
bany, confusion, and riots. In 1767, the agents of the
settlers procured an order of the king to put a stop to
the proceedings of New York.
313. Violent measures of New Y&rk. In 1772, go-
vernor Tryon,>.of New York, made some attempts to
effect an amicable adjustment of this controversy ; but
the claims of the parties could ntft be reconciled. In
1774, the legislature of New York passed an act, making
it felony in any of the settlers to refuse to surrender
himseli to the orders of the governor and council, and
a reward was offered for apprehending seven of the
principal settlers. The consequence was, a combination
on the part of the settlers, to resist the claims of NeW
York by force. An attempt was made in concert with
colonel Skeen, to procure this territory to be erected
into a separate royal government ; but tne revolutionary
war, in 1775, changed the aspect of affairs. The session
of the court at Westminster was opposed by force ; one
man was killed by the military, in attempting to disperse
the insurgents ; and ft committee of the inhabitants
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180 BI8T0BT or TBS UMITfift ITATfiS.
rMolyed it to be the dutjr of the settlers to renounce and
resist the Rovemment ot New York until some security
could be obtained for their lives ana safety.
314. Proceedings of the settlers during the ioar. In
autumn 1775, some persons attended upon the consress
in Philadelphia, to obtain advice ; but nothing could be
obtained, etcept the opinions of individuals, that it was
Srudent to associate and form^temporary regulations. In
anuary^ I77Q, a convention at Dprset prepared and
transmitted a memorial to congress^ manifesting their
readiness to bear a full proportion or the burdens of the
war, but not to be considered as belonging to New York.
Another convention in July 17?6. entered into an asso-
ciation for the defense of their rignts, and in September,
the^ resolved to take measur^for erecting their territo-
ry mto an independent state. A general convention
was called and met in January 1777, at Westminster.
On the 16th of that month, it was resolved that the
"district of territory, called New Hampshire grants, of
right ought to be^and is hereby declared to be an inde«
pendent state." To this territory was given the name
of Verrnonti which signifies green mountain^ from the
moimtains of that name, running through the state.
315. Proceedings of congress in regard to Vermont*
No sooner was a government and state formed in this
territory^ than application was made to congress by the
convention, to be received into the confederacy as an in-
dependent state. To this measure, the state of New
York made a nMMt formidable opposition ; and to pre-
vent a rupture, or dangerous lutercations with New
York, congress was obliged to decline receiving Ver-
mont into the Union, and avoid any act that should be
construed into an acknowled^ent of the independence
of that state. New Hampshire had long before ceased
to exercise iurisdiction over the territory and had with-
drawn all claims to the property.
316. Extension of Vermont Jurisdiction^ By the
original mnts to Mason, under which New Hampshire
was settled, the colony could not claim more than sixty
miles of territory from the mouth of the Pascataqua,
But several towns west of that line were settled and go-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
POLITICAL EVENTS. 137
Teraed by Now Hampshire by common consent. In
1778, sixteen of the towns on tne east of the Connecti-
cut, and not within the limits of the grants to Mason,
petitioned to be united with Vermont. This question
was referred to the people, and the assembly in June
1778, voted to receive them into the jurisdiction of
Vermont. This measure alarmed New Hampshire, and
produced warm remonstrances to Vermont, and to con-
gress. That body was much displeased, and the next
assembly in Vermont voted not to erect the sixteen
towns into a county, which was a virtual disavowal of
their former proceedings.
317. Claims to Vermont, The inhabitants of the
sixteen discarded towns, and some of the towns on the
west of the Connecticut, made a feeble attempt to erect
another state, whose center and seat of government
should be on the river ; but without success. To pre-
vent such confusion and altercation, Vermont, in Feb-
ruary 1779, voted to dissolve the union with the sixteen
towns. Soon after this step. New Hampshire voted to
assert her claims to the whole territory, as far as the
bounds of New York, and New York asserted her
elaim also to the whole territory, as far as the Connecti-
cut. Massachusetts also set up a claim to a part of the
same lands. In this state of things, the governor of
New York exercised acts of authority within Vermont,
and every thing wore the appearance of an appeal to
arms. Some military officers commissioned by the go-
vernor of New York, were taken prisoners by colonel
Allen of Vermont ; but upon the governor's ajjplication
to congress, they were liberated.
318. Proceedings of congress on that occasion.
Congress directed their commissioners, appointed for
the purpose, to inquire into the facts relative to these
controversies ; but this inquiry produced no reconcilia-
tion. Congress therefore, in September 1779, recom-
mended to the parties concerned, to pass laws author-
izing congress to hear and determine their differences.
IVew Yoii and New Hampshire complied ; but Ver-
mont declined it, as did Massachusetts. The govem-
i»ent of Vermont published an appeal, in which it was
12*
138 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
maintainea that congress ought not to intermeddle with
the police and government of that state, or arbitrate
upon its rights. In June 1780, congress resolved that
the proceedings of Vermont were highly unwarrantable
and subversive of the peace and welfare of the United
States. In September, congress began to hear evidence
of the claims of the states, to the territory of Vermont,
but the business was left unfinished.
319. Extension of the Jurisdiction of Vermont,
Vermont being pressed by its opposers, determined to
enlarge the limits and augment the streng[th of the state.
Bv means of circular letters, a convention was called
of delegates from towns on the east side of the river.
Forty three towns agreed to unite with Verpiont, and in
February 1781, their desire was notified to the assem-
bly of V^ermont at Windsor, upon whu:h the assem-
bly on the 14th of that month, resolved to claim the
jurisdiction of all the territory in New Hampshire, west
of the Mason line. On the 22d the articles of union
were ratified. Some persons within the limits of New
York, having intimated a desire to be united with Ver-
mont, for protection, the assembler on the 14th of Feb-
ruary, resolved to extend their claims of jurisdiction to
the river Hudson.
320. Negociations of Vermont wUJi the British com-
mander. Not having been able, by repeated applications,
to procure an admission into tne union of these states,
the leaders in Vermont adopted the plan of exciting the
jealousy of congress, by entering into a negotiation with
the British commanders in New York and Canada ; and
by making it believed, that, if not received into the
union, the state would put itself under the protection of
the British government. This negotiation was attend-
ed with this good effect ; it amused the British with the
hope of detat^iing that state from the American confed-
eracy, and induced them to suspend hostilities on its
frontiers. This farce was continued, with great address
about three years, until the peace of 1783.
Measures which led to the admission of Vermont in-
to the union. On the 7th of August 1781, congress re-
solved to appoint a committee of five to confer with th©
uigitizea by Google
political'^ Ey£NT9. 139
agents of the seyeral contending states, respecting the
claims of Vermont to independence. On the 20th of
the same month they resolved it to be a preliminary to
the recognition of Vermont as an independent state,
that all its claims east of the Connecticut, and within
twenty miles of the Hudson, should be relinquished. In
October, these resolutions were considered by the assem-
bly of Vermont, but it was determined not to comply with
the conditions. In this situation of affairs, New Hamp-
shire and New York prepared to repel the usurpations
of Vermont upon their territory, with force of arms.
Fortunately, no blood was shed, and in January 1782,
General Washington interposed his influence, and like
a guardian angel, persuading the rulers of Vermont to
recede from their unwarrantable claims, pointed out to
them the way to safety. On the 26th of February 1782,
the assembly of Vermont withdrew their claims within
their original limits, the Connecticut on the east and
New York line on the west.
322. New sources of altercation. In the county of
Windham, were some persons attached to the govern-
ment of New York, who opposed the raising and paying
of men for protecting the frontiers of Vermont and who
attempted to exercise the powers of government under
authority from the government of New York. The
sherif, aided by the military, was sent to protect the
courts. Five of the obnoxious characters were banish-
ed and others foied. INfew" York appealed to congress,
who, in December 1782, resolved that the proceedings
of Vennont were derogatory to the authority of the
United States, and dangerous to the confederacy. They
also required Vermont to indemnify the ijersons who
had suffered damages from their proceedings. This
resolution had no effect, but to call forth a bold and
spirited remonstrance from the governor and council of
Vermont, and another from the assembly, disputing the
right of congress to intermeddle with the government
of the slate, and announcing their determination to
maintain independence. ^
323. Pined admission of Vermont into the Ununu
After the peace of 1783, Vennont, released from the
ly VJ»^7\^VI\^
140 HISTORY OP TIIC UNITEO STATES.
fear of an enemy, was less solicitous about joining the
confederacy of slates. In this condition, it continue^ 9.
separate state, managing its own concerns, until the
year 1789. But after the organization of the general
government over the states, m that year, New York
ceased to oppose the independence of Vermont, and in
July 1789, appointed commissioners to settle the con-
troversy. In October, Vermont appointed commissioners
for the same purpose. After meeting and deliberating,
the parties agreed ; and New York consented that Ver-
mont should be admitted into the union, on condition of
passing an act to pay to New York thirty thousand dol-
lars as a compensation fpr lands in Vermont claimed by
citizens of New York. In consequence of this agree-
ment, a convention was called at Bennington. In Jan-
uary 1791, a resolution was passed fqr joining the con-
federacy, and agents were appointed by the assembly to
repair to Philadelphia to negotiate the union. On the
18th of February 1791, the business was completed, and
Vermont became a member of the confederacy.
d2i. Controversy between Connecticut and Pennsyl-
vania. Connecticut, by her charter, extended from the
Narraganset river on the east to the South sea on the
west, excepting such lands as were then occupied by
prior settlers. This charter was granted in 1662. In
1681 William Penn obtained a grant of lands on the
yrest side of the Delaware river, extending northward
to the forty-third degree of latitude. The date of this
grant is nearly nineteen years after the date of the
charter of Connecticut ; but it covers a part of the terri-
tory which the people of Connecticut considered as
granted to them. For nearly a century after the date of
the charter, Connecticut neglected to claim and settle
that part of her territory, which lay westward of the
colony of New York ; and the commissioners sent by
the king determined in 1664, that the river or creet
called Maronec, should be the western boundary of
Connecticut.
325. Purchase and settlement of Wyoming, After
Connecticut had granted all the lands eastward of New
York, some persons formed a design of planting the
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
POUTXCiJL 6TSNT8. lil
k lands within her charter, on the Susquenannah. A
company was formed in 1153, and a purchase made
from the sachems of the six nations, by deed dated July
11th, 1754, of a large tract of land on the Susque-
hannah, at Wyoming. The legislature of Connecticut
sanctioned the proceeding ; but by reason of the war
which followed, the land lay vacant till 1762, when the
first settlements were beffun, which were enlarged in
the following years, and especially in 1768. In 1774^
the settlement was erected into a town called West-
moreland, which sent representatives to the assembly of
Connecticut. In 1776, it was formed into a county, and
courts established, as in other counties in the colony.
326. Pennsylvania purcJiose of the same lands. The
treaty of the Connecticut men with the Indians, and
the subsequent purchase, excited the jealousy of the
proprietaries of Pennsylvania ; and they entered into a
negotiation with Hendrick, a sachem, wno had declined
signing the deed to the Connecticut purchasers, to pro-
icure a deed of the same lands and defeat the Connecti-
cut purchase. This object was effected so far as that a
deed of the lands was obtained from the Indian chiefs.
Grants of lands were made under the government of
Pennsylvania, and settlements begun which excited
warm disputes, and an attempt was made to drive the
Connecticut settlers from the lands by force of arms.
327. Progress of this controversy. In 1770, the le- *
gislature of Connecticut transmitted to England certain
questions to be proposed to the most able lawyers, re-
specting her title to lands west of New York. The
answers were favorable to her daims, and determined
the colony to maintain them. But the revolutionary
war suspended the controversy^ until the year 1781,
when both states agreed to appomt commissioners with
full power to determine the dispute. The commissioners
were ai^ointed, and an act of congress was passed,
eonstitutmg them a court to hear and determme the
controversy. This act was dated August 28, 1782.
On the 19tn of November, 1782, the commissio|iers met
und opened the court at Trenton.
328. joints in t?i0 controversy, Tlie agent* of p9n-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
I^ pnrroRT or m united itates.
necticdt, in fi^iipport of their claims, relied on the charti^
granted in ld20, to the council of Plymouth — the earl
of Warwick's deed to lords Say and* Seal and compaoy
in 1631 — the charter of Connecticut ^ranted in 1662,
and the purchase from the Indians in 1*^. The agents
of Pennsylvania rested their cause on the grant of the
lands to William Penn in 1681 — a deed from the Indians
to the proprietary, dated October 25, 1736, granting to
him the nght of pre-emption to the lands in question —
and on the known and established bounds of the state
of Pennsylvania. It was urged that the settlement oi
the line between New York and Connecticut, in 1650,
1664. and 1683, had established the western boundary
of Connecticut. But the agents of the latter state
maintained that those decisions were intended only to
fix the divisional line between New York and Con-
necticut
329. Determination of the court. On the 13th of
Decejqiber, 1782, the court pronounced their judginent,
that it was their unanimous opinion, the state of Con-
necticut had no right to the lands in controversy ; but
that the Jurisdiction and pre-emption of all the territory
lying within \he charter boundary of Pennsylvania,
then claimed by Connecticut, of right belonged to
Pennsylvania. This decision terminated the contro-
' versy on the part of the state of Connecticut ; but as it
did not determine the right to the soil, a long and violent
controversy ensued between Pennsylvania and the set-
tlers at Wyoming.
330. Western reserve. Notwithstanding the state
of Connecticut acquiesced in the decision of the court
at Trenton, so far as it respected the land claimed by
Pennsylvania, yet they maintained their claim to all
the territory within the north and south boundary lines
of the state, as expressed in the charter, lying west of
the western limits of Pennsylvania, and extending to
the Mississippi. In compliance with the recommenda-
tion of congress, and with a view to obtain the implied
sanction of their charter claims, the state of Connectici^t.
by their delegates in congress, in the year 1786, ceded
to thf United States all the lands within the charter
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
POLITICAL fiVElf TO. , 143
limits, west of Pennsylvania, excepting a tract (^ one
hundred and twenty miles in length, adjoining to Penn^
i^lvania on the west. This cession was accepted, and
the acceptance was considered as an indirect acknow-
led^ent that the Connecticut claim was well founded.
This tract of one hundred and twenty miles, thus ex-
cepted out of the cession, was called the reserve,
331. Sale and appropriations of the reserve, A part
of the reserved lana, amounting to half a million of
acres, was granted by the state to the inhabitants of
New London, Fairfield, and Norwalk, whose property
had been destroyed by the. British troops, during the wan
The remainder was sold, in ITQS, and the money arising'
from the sale, appropriated to the purpose of constituting
a perpetual fund, for the support of schools in the state.
To secure this land and tne title to the purchasers,
against the claims of the United States, an act of con-
gress was obtained in the beginning of the vear 1800,
by which the title of Connecticut was connrmed, and
the purchasers secured in their possessions ; on the
condition that the state of Conneeticut should relinquish
all future claim to knd, lying wfestward of the present
limits of the state. At the May session of the legisla-
ture, in 1800, an act was passed fully complying with
this condition, and thus ended a controversy which had
lasted more thaii thirty years. The territory thus rs^
served, forms a part of the state of Ohio*
QUESTIONS.
281. Who was the great enemy of MassachuBetts colony 1
233. When did the covmcil of Plymouth surrender their
charter 1
282. When did the king and council demand the charter of
Massachusetts to be surrendered 1
283. What was the plan of the enemies Of the colonies 1
284. What complaints were made against the colonies? and
when was the charter of Massachusetts vacated %
285. What colonies surrendered their charters 1
286. How was the charter of Connecticut preserved %
286, 287. Who was appointed first governor general over
Xi0W England, and ansixed Conneeticut to Massachusetts 1
,y Google
144 anrosT ot ths onited nkvBB.
286. What trent fie&eved the ooloniM from the tjnnaf •f
Androisl
S88. When did ManachiMctti obtain a new chartec, and
when was the Plymoath cobny united to Maflsachuaetts 1
289. Who attempted to unite the coloniea to the crown of
Emriand in the reign of king William 1
990. Who dispirted the right of the Engfiah to the knde on
the Connecticat river?
P 291. When did the ^eopLd begin a aettlement on Long
292. When and how waa the dlipate with the Dutch ad-
juatedl
293. How were the New Haven people treated in Delawaiel
What put an end to the Dutch war 1 When was the Dutch
ftrt at Haitlbnl takeni
294. When was the charter of Connecticut obtained, com-
pgebendKng New Haven 1 What vhm the event 1
< 294. when and by whom were the Dutch subdued 1
295. How was the boundary between Connecticut and New
York settled, and what is the line 1
296. When was New York finally restored to England 1
297. When did sir Edmond Andross attempt to take Say-
brook, and vrhat was the eventt
298. When was the line between Connecticut and New York
finally determinedl What is that line 1 What exchange of
lands was made 1
299, 300, 301. Give some account of the attempts to d^ermine
the bounds of Massachusetts and Connecticut When waa
the line finally settled 1
302, 303. Give an account of the attempts to settle the
bounds of Rhode Island.
307. When were the bounds of Rhode Island finally settled 1
308. When was New Hampshire made a royal government 1
309. When was the line between Massachusetts and New
Hampshke settled 1
310. How long did Vermont remain unsettled 1
310. When was fort Dummer builtl
311. Whkh is the oldest town in Vermont 1
323. When was Vemont admitted into the unioni
327, 328, 329. When and how was the controversy between
Connecticut and Pennsylvania determined 1
330, 331. What was the ori^ of the Connecticut Reserve,
and to wbal purpoM was the hund i^ypiopriatedl
,y Google
QOVB&NMBNT AND UIVS. 145
CHAPTER IX.
GOVERNMENT AND LAWS.
832. Government and laws of the New England
colonies, T he charter under which the first settlements
in New England were made, vested in the corporations
the power of making all laws which should be deemed
expedient, provided they were not repugnant to th^
laws of England. By the charter of Massachusetts,
the powers of government were lodged in the governor,
deputy governor, und eighteen assistants, who were to
be chosen by the freemen, and who constituted a court
to be held monthly; and in the whole body of the
freemen^ wlio were to be summoned to hold a genc^ral
court at least once in a year. The first general court
in Boston was held May 17, old style, l&l, when all
the &eemen attended and took the oath.
333. First practice under the charter. At the first
election, the freemen chose tiie assistants, and these
chose the governor and deputy governor from among
their own number ; but this was a departure from the
charter^ and at the general court in May, 1632, it was
ordered that the freemen should choose the governor
and assistants annually, and the governor be always
selected from among the assistants. The governor and
assistants at first exercised great powers, even to the
laying of taxes, without consulting the freemen. Th6
people in Watertown opposed this practice, but the court
of assistants summoned them to appear before the court
at Boston, and convinced them that the " government
was rather in the nature of a parliament, than of a city
corporation." The opposers, therefore, submitted, and
retracted what was called their error ; out, in fact, was
a correct opinion.
334. Quali/ieations of a freeman. In addition to
the usual qualifications of electors, the possession of*
property and a good character, the first settlers of New
England made it requisite, that a man should be in full
communion with the church, lo entitle him to the privii-
13
ly v.J»^7\^vi\^
146 B18T0BT OP TBI 01fim> STATES.
lege of Yodng for ralen, and it was usual for the candi*
date to procure a certificate frolii his minister, of his
orthodox principles and moral conversation. In Massa-
chusetts, a proposition was made to the court, in 1644,
to repeal this law, and extend the rights of freemen to
others, who were not church members; but it was
postponed, and the law continued till the year 1662,
when it was repealed, in conformity with the injunctions
of king Charles the 2d.
336. Change* in the government of MassachuaetU, .
It was customary at first for sdl the freemen of the colony
to meet in general court and the flovemor, assistants,
and freemen, all assembled in one bodjr or house. As
the freemen multiplied, it became inconvenient for all
to attend, and at the election in April, 1634, the fireemen
chose two of their number from each town to meet and
consult upon some matters, previous to the general court
in May, which had for their object a timitation of the
powers of the court of assistants. After a consultation,
and a perusal of the charter, they Were convinced that
the court of assistants had exceeded their powers, and
t^^ired to the governor to advise with him, and to
propose the abrogation of some of their laws. The
flrovemor suggested, that as it was inconvenient for all
the freemen to tittend, a select number of them should
revise, consider, and prepare new laws or alterations,
for the general court
336. ISstMishment cf representoHves, In conse-
nuence of these proceedmgs, the general court in May,
1634, enacted that there should be four general courts
annually, but the whole body of fireemen should be
present only at the court of electrons, and at the other
three courts, deputies only from the towns should attend
and manage the public concerns. The number of de-
puties firom each town was three, imtil the year 1639,
when by an order of the general court, the number was
veduced to two. This ordinance excited much popular
jealousy, which gradually yielded to a ^1 conviction
of its expedience.
337. Origin of a negative vote in ih§ court of ot-
9i9tant4. At the g^eiml court in 8eptmber 1634, the
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
OOTBRNMENT AND LAWS. 147
NcwtoTrn ])eople under Mr. Hooker, presented a reqnesC
for permission to remove to Ccmnecticut j alled^ng, a»
reasons, the want of more room to accommodate them-
selres with pasturage, the fertility of the Connecticut
land and the m^ency of their wishes. Many objections
were raised to this proposal ; among others, the unity of
the Newtown people under the charter, and their duty
to protect the colony, whijch was weak and exposed to
assaults from the savages ; they ui^d also the exposure
of the people to the Dutch and Indians on tiie Connecti-
cut. After great debate, the vote was taken ; the gover-
nor and two assistants were in favor of the removal ;
the deputy governor and the rest of the assistants were
agiunst it ; of the deputies, fifteen were for it, and ten
against it. As the charter required seven of the assist-
ants, to make a quorum, and there was not a majority
of that number for the removal, the governor and assist-
ants coi^tended, that the vote was not carried in the
affirmative. On the other hand, there was a majori^
of the deputies in favor of it, and the deputies contend-
ed that the assistants fsould not impose a negative cm
their vote.
338. Progress of this dispute. As neither of the
parties would yield the point in dispute, the court ad-
journed without entering the vote on record ; all agree-
mg however to keep a day of religious humiliation on
that occasion, which was observed by all con^gations.
Mr. Cotton, an eminent and influential clergyman,
preached a sermon, in which he maintained the "strength
of the magistracy or assistants to be their authority—
^at of the people, their liberty — that of the ministry,
their purity," and he ^ve such reasons for the negative
power of each, that, if not convinced, all were satisfied
to let the question subside. A few days after, the court
met, and business was carried on amicably : the assist-
ants maiutaining their negative voice, even while the
representatives sat with them in the same room and all
formed but one house or legislative body.
340. Division of the legislature into two branches.
The assistants and deputies continued to sit in the same
xoom and vote together about twi years ; but not with-
jy^JKjyiiK^
148 HISTOBy OP THB UICITED &TATEB,
out great discontent on the part of the deputies, who
conceired themselves abridged of their just rights, by
the negative vote of the assistants. In March 1644, thu
dispute gave rise to a motion on the part of the deputies
^at the assistants and deputies should separate and hold
thek deliberations in different rooms ; and that the con*
currence o£ both lumses should be necessary to pass a
bill into a law or resolve. The motion prevailed ; and
thus was established the distribution of the le^slative
power into two houses, 'vd^ch remains to this day, and
nas been adc^rted as a principle in the American coa-
stitutions. In Connecticut^ however, the practice of the
ftiatstants and deputies, sitting and voting together con-
tinued, until the October session in 16d8, when the legis-
lature passed an act by which. that body was divided
into two houses.
341. Attempts in Masaa^chusetta to create fiuigis^
tvateefoT life. It was an opinion among our pious an^
cettors that great respect should be paid to elderly men,
to magistrates and to ministers. Tnis opinion was jus-
tided by the scriptures, and productive of very salutary
effects. Some persons, carried their attempts farthi^
than was agreeable to public opinion. Before the gen-
eral court at Boston in May, 1634, Mr. Cotton in a ser-
mon maintained that a magistrate ought not to be turn-
ed into the condition of a private man ; and the ques-
tion afterwards coming before the court, was prudently
pos^ned. In May 163d, a law passed to continue cer-
tain magistrates or assistants in office for life, as a stand-
ing council, and two were chosen for the purpose. But
in May 1to9, one of the elders giving his opinion that
the g-ovemor ought to hold his office for life, popular
jealousy was alarmed and a bill was presented to pro-
hibit a councilor from exercising his office, unless annu-
ally elected to be a magistrate. This bill to quiet the
apprehensions of the people was readily passed into a
law.
342. Introduction of voting by proxy. As ^e peo-
ple were resolutely opposed to the extension of toe pow-
er of the assistants, always pleading the charter to ju^
tify their of^sition j so they took the liberty to depart
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
GOVBRNMENT AND LAWS. 149
firom the letter of that instrument, when it was judged
expedient. The charter vested tne powers of govern-
ment in a court of assistants and the whole hody of free-
men ; making no provision for voting by proxy. But in
May 1636, a law passed permitting freemen of remote
towns to send their votes by proxy to the court of elec-
tions. One reason for this alteration, was, the difficulty
of procuring provisions for the whole assembly of free-
men. This precedent being established, was aiterwards
followed by all the towns.
343. Manner of voting'. In electing officers, the free-
men at first used beans and com ; ahean gave a nega-
tive ; and a kernel of com. an affirmative vote. In 1634.
pieces of paper were usea ; those for the governor ana
deputy govemor containing the name of the person
voted for ; but in choosing assistants, the name of a
person was proposed by the govemor or presiding offi-
cer j those who voted for the person, gave a paper with
some writing ou it ; those who voted against him, gave
a blank paper. This gave rise to the manner of elect-
ing the council of Connecticut by nomination, which
was practised till die formation of the present constitu-
tion m the year 1818.
344. IVie choice of the govemor. It was aft estab-
lished law in the colonies to elect one of the assistants
to be governor. This law in Connecticut was repealed
in 1708, and the freemen were empowered to elect a go-
vernor from among their own body at large. But in
such estimation were the govemor and assistants usually
held by the people, that the same persons were almost
uniformly re-chosen annually to their respective offices,
during life, or during their ability to perform public bu-
siness, This unchanging confidence m their mlers, was
a principal means of the stability of government and
harmooy of councils, which distinguished the New
England republics*
345. Laws of the first colonies. For a few years
after the colonies wer^ settled in New England, the
magistrates govemed by temporary regulations, or dis-
cretionary decisions ; aiming to bottom all their laws
and proceedings on the word of God. But as many
lO uigitized Dy VJ^^^VJ'V n^
100 BISTORT OF THE UNITED STATE3,
cases occurred which it was difficult to determine for
want of precise rules, and the people thought such dis-
cretionary powers unsafe, the court of Massachusetts
appointed a committee in March 1638, to compile a body
pf fundamental laws. The draft was prepared, and
in autunm 1639, published for consideration. In De-
cember 1641, the general court enacted the laws, which
were called the " Body of Liberties." Most qf these
laws were copied Into the first code of Connecticut.
346. Character of the primitive Netc England code.
Most of the laws of the first settlers were founded on
justice, the laws of England and of nations, but adapt-
ed to ttje peculiar circumstances of the colonies. They
were devised by able men of strict probity and religion,
and remain the basis of the civil institutions of the
states to this day. But as the compilers of those codes,
were puritans of rigid principles, their reverence for the
scriptures led them to adopt some of the levitical laws,
which are not adapted to modem times. Hence blas-
phemy, au Qbstinate denial of the being of a God, adul-
tery, stubborn disobedience of children^ and witchcraft
were punishable with death, and heretics were subject
io bai^ishment. Under these laws, some persons suffer-
ed punishuientsi that were cruel and unjust. But the
colonies were no worse than the mother country, where
dissenters of all kinds were cruelly persecuted, and
where witchcraft was punishable with death, long after
the tragedies of that sort had ceased in New England.
It was an intolerant spirit common to all Europe, and the
other American colonies.
347. Primitive government of Plymouth colony.
The planters at Plymouth were few in number, and they
adopted the laws of England mostly as the rules of
judging in theu: own concerns, but, like those of Massa-
chusetts, they annexed to some crimes penalties far too
severe. They at first elected no civil officer except a
governor and one a«ji(i$tant ; in 1624, four more assist-
ants were added, and in 1633, two more, making seven
jn all, which number continued till they resigned their
charter to Andross. They had no deputies from the
jowns, until the year 1639, wheiji deputies were chosei^
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GOVERNMENT AND LAWS. 151
and formed on a house with the governor and assistants*
Before that time, the freemen attended in person.
3i8. Judiciary power of the New England colonies.
The supreme jjower of deciding all. cases in law and
equity, was originally in the court of assistants in Mas-
sachusetts ; and in Plymouth, was vested in the gover-
nor and assistants by a law in 1634. The same law was
adopted in Connecticut ; and when by the increase of
people and business, it was found inconvenient for the
whole body of assistants to attend, it became a custom
for the general court to appoint anually four of the
assistants with the deputy governor, to constitute the su-
perior court. This practice continued till the May ses-
sion, 1784, when the governor, deputy govemorj and
assistants were disabled from holding the office of a judge
of that court The practice of the annual appointment
of judges, derived from the practice of choosing the as-
sistants annually, subsisted till the formation of the x^ew
constitution in 1818. The judges of the county courts
^l^ were at first taken from among the assistants. As
the supreme judiciary power, in the infant state of the
colonies, was exercised by the general court, when the
assistants and deputies met in one house, so the legisla-
ture of Connecticut for a long time ^fter its division into
two houses, retained the isame power.
3i9. The ecclesiastical affairs of the^New England
colonies. The puritans left England and settled in
America, for the purpose of enjoying liberty of con-
science, not being willing to conform to the ceremonies
of the church of England. In America, they adopted
the mdependent or congregational plan of government j
by whicn each church chooses its own ministers and of-
ficers, and submits to no government or censure from
another church. They elected pastors and teachers,
ruling elders and deacons ; and it was the practice at
times for the elders or principal men to expound pasr
sages of scripture, or discuss questions, which was called
prophesying, in imitation of the primitive churches.
No church could be gathered, without the permission qf
the magistrates. Ordination was performed by the lay-*
>ng on orhands, eitl^^r qf the neighboring ministers, or
iS2 HISTObT OF THE UNITED STATES.
of lay brethren of the church. The former method
was the most usual. The office of ruling elder and the
custom of phrophesying soon went into disuse.
350. Sabbath and some peculiar citstoms. The first
settlers had scruples about the lawfulness of calling the
days of the weet bv the names derived from idolatrous
nations ; they therefore called them by the numbers, first,
second, third^ &c. Thev called the first day, Saubath
or Lord's day ; the montns they called the firet^ second,
third. &c., beginning the year on the 26th ot March,
whicK was the first month— April, the second, and so on.
The time of beginning the Sabbath was a subject of
much debate and difficulty. The practice of keeping
Saturday erenin^^ as holy time, seems to have originated
in an order or injunction of the governor and deputy ^^lo^
vemor of the New England company, dated in England
April 17, 1629, and directed to Mr. Endicott at Salem,
that all persons should cease from labor at thre^ o'clock
on Saturday afternoon, and spend the rest of the day in
catechising and preparation for the sabbath. This
practice was against tne opinion of some eminent cler-
gymen of that day, especially Mr. Hooker.
351. Public lectures. For four years after Boston
was settled, four lectures were preached weekly ; but
in October, 1634, it was agreed by the ministers and
magistrates, that this number required too much time ;
and therefore they reduced the number to two, which
were to be preached alternately at Boston, Cambridge,
Roxbury, and Dorchester. The number is now reduced
to one, which is preached every Thursday at Boston.
352. Daifs of fasting arid thanksgiving". The
churches laid aside the regular festivals of the church
of England, and appointed days of fasting, on special
occasions, such as times of severe drouth, great mor-
tality, scarcity of provisions, danger from the savages,
and the like. Days of thanisgivmg were appointed on
occasions of great Joy, such as the conquest of the Per
quots. the termination of Indian wars, and especially
for ahundant crops. These occasional dfiys were fire-
quent during the nrst generation, who suijfbred peculiar
hardships, and who were exposed to unceasing perils,
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GOVERNMENT AND LAWS. 153
which impressed their minds deeply with a sense of
their dependence on the Supreme Bemg. The practice
of the first settlers has given rise, among their descend-
ants, to a regular appointment of a dajr of humiliation
in the spring, and a day of thanksgiving in autumn. '
353. Church discipline. The first churches were
very rigid in their authority over the principles and
morals of their members. The least deviation from
what they believed to be orthodoxy, and every immo-
rality, was subjected to church censure. This narrow
inspection of every man's conduct, produced for many
years most exact morals in life and gre^it uniformity of
doctrines. But it was not possible to prevent difierences
of opinion ; and when these arose, the severity with
which the persons who avowed them, were censured,
occasioned many heartburnings and mutual reproaches,
^ome persons were banished from Massachusetts, or
excommunicated by the churches, and leaving the colony,
they planted Rhode Island. The same rigid principles
led to many abstruse inquiries and minute distinctions
on religious subjects^ which divided the opinions of
people; and in some instances, churches were rent
asunder bj speculative distinctions that are hardly in-
telligible. This party spirit was -the ofispring of exces-
sive zeal, to preserve a pure church; for men had not
learned that party spirit, in religion as in government,
always thrives under persecution, and obstinate intoler-
ance. But this intolerant spirit lasted but a few years.
354. Platform of the churches. In 1634, the churches
in New England adopted certain canons and constitu-
tions, defining the officers, their duties, modes of election,
and the rules of proceeding and government. In 1648,
a synod of elders and messengers at Cambridge adopted
a platform of church government, containing the prin-
ciples held by the churches, and an explanation of the
powers and duties of the officers, the mode of ordination,
the powers of the church, the manner of maintaining
ministers, and the rules of admission, excommunication,
and censure. In 1708, delegates from the councils of
the counties in Connecticut met at Saybrook and agreed
upon an ecclesiastical constitution^ called the platform ^
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154 BISTORT OF THB UNITED STATES.
containing a confession of faith and regalations for
administering church discipline. This was confirmed
hy the legislature in October of the same year, and
remains the basis of church government to this day.
355. Union of churches in ConnecticiU, By the
Saybrook nlatfom^ the ministers, elders, and messen-
gers of all the churches in a county or other district,
constitute a consociation. The ministers of the churches
in a county or other district, form an association, which
is empowered to examine and recommend candidates.
Thesp councils are consulted in regard to religious
concerns, and assist the churches in ordaining ana dis-
missing their ministers ; but their powers are mostly
advisory. They however contribute by their influ-
ence, to preserve peace and harmony among churches,
restrain controversies, and reconcile differences. A
general association consists of delegates from the several
associations in the state, and holds an annual meeting
in each of the counties by rotatipn.
$56. Support of the congregational clergy. The
first ministers in New England were maintained by
weekly contributions. The tamous Mr. Cotton preached
a sermon in Boston, in December, 1633, in which he
urged that the scriptures clearly direct the maintenance
of minister? to be defrayed, like other charges of the
church, out of a chest or treasury to be supulied by
contribution ; upon which the church adopted tne prac-
tice. But it was laid down as a principle, in the first
church laws, that ministers ought to be supported by
their hearers, and in case of ne^kct, that the magistrates
might be called upon to compel them to make payment^
The clergy have now fixed salaries, paid by a tax on
the pews of the church or the property of the hearers.
The first settlers in Rhode Island adopted a different
principle, and a declaration of general toleration being
mcorporated into the charter of that colony, the laws
furnish no aid in supporting the gospel. In none of the
states, at this time, is a man coinpelled to maintain reli-
gious worship, in a church to which he does not belong,
357. Introduction of the Ejnscopal church. There
was no regular public worship in Massachusetts, except
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GOVERNMENT AND LAWS. 155
in the congregational churches, until the year 1686!,
when an Episcopal church, consisting of ahout four
hundred persons, met regularly for worship. The first
Gpisco|)al church in Connecticut was collected at Rye,
in 1704, under Mr. Muirson. The second was formed
at Stratford, in 1706. Some opjposition was made to
the estahlishment of that church in the colony, which
served only to increase the zeal of its advocates. From
such Small beginnings, the Episcopal church has become
large and respectable in many paurts of New England,
especially in the commercial towns.
358. Community of lands and goods in Plymouth.
The first adventurers to Plymouth placed sdl their pro-
perty in a common stock, to be used and improved for
the benefit of the company. The lands also were at
first cultivated in common, and the fruits of the earth
deposited in a common magazine. Witbin three years,
eaqperience <;onvinced the people of the absurdity of the
fnroject ; for many persons, expecting to be maintained
eut of the public fund^ neglected to labor, and the colotfy
was Ib dan^r of perishing with hunger. In 1623, tb«
company placed every tingle person in some family,
assigned a portion of land to each, and left.every family
to trust to Its own labor -for food. The consequence
nthe settlers became more contented, and had food
undance.
359. Sumjotuary and regulating laws. The planters
of New England, on their arrival in a wilderness, where
it was difficult at first to obtain the necessaries of life,
and impossible to enjoy luxuries^ attempted by example
and law to restrain all excesses m diet or dress. Gov-*
emor Winthrc^, soon after he arrived, laid aside the
practice of drinking healths, at his own table, and re-
commended it to others. In 1639, the practice was
forbid by law. In 1634, laws were passed prohibiting
the use of tolmcco, immodest fashions, and costly apparel.
In 1633, a law was made to limit the price of labor ;
workmen being scarce, and demanding high wages.
Master workmen were allowed two shillings, and la-
borers eighteen pence a day ; money being or sterling
talue^ It was also ordered, that the advance on goods
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156 HISTOBY OF THE tDflTBD STATES.
should not exceed four pence on a shilling, beyond the
price in England. These laws had no durable effect,
and the general court, in 1640, finding that laborers
Would either transgress the laws or leave the colony,
repealed the act regulating wages, and left eveiy town
to fix the price of labor among its own inhabitants,
which had a better efiect.
360. First shipping' built in New England, The
first attempt to build water craft in New England, was
in 1626. The Plymouth people, finding themselves
exposed to great hazards in coasting with an open boat,
and having no ship carpenter, employed a house car-
penter, who sawed into two parts their largest boat,
mserted timbers to lengthen it five or six feet, built a
deck, and rigged it into a convenient vessel, which did
service for ieven years.
The first vessel built in Massachusetts, was a bark
of thirty tons, built by governor Winthrop, at Mistic,
lanched July 4, 1631, and called the Blessing of thte
Bay. The day of the first lanch is now the anniversary
of mdependencci In 1633, a small ship of sixty tons
was built at Medford. In 1636, a ship ol one hundred
and thirty tons was built at Marblehead. and called the
Desire, which belonged to the people oi Salem, whose
descendants are remarkable for their commercial enter-
prise. This was the first American ship that made a
voyage to England.
861. Causes which prtymoied ship building. The
planters of New England had vested all their property
m money, or necessaries for beginning a plantation ;
but having little eommerce, their money was, in a few
years, expended, and they had few resources to supply
themselves. Foreign ships came to trade with them,
but took little besides money in payment, by which
means the colonies were soon drained of cash. Brass
farthings were sometimes used for small change, and
afterwards, bullets. In 1640, money had become so
scarce, that the government directed grain to be given
in payment of debts, at fixed prices ; and when no per-
sonal estate could be found, lands to be apprized to
creditors upon execution. This was the origin of tender
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GOVEftHMEKT AND LAWS. Iff7
laws. In this situatiooj the price of lands and af cattle
fell to a fourth of their former nominal value. This
put the people upon sowing flax and hemp, and import-
mg cotton.
362. First attempt to encourage commerce. In this
languishing state of trade, the apprehension of a want
of foreign commodities alarmed the people in Massa-
chusetts, and they determined to provide shipping of
their own. Mr. Peters, a public spirited man, procured
a number of persons to join him in building a ship of
three hundred tons, at Salem, in 1640, and this example
was soon followed by the inhabitants of Boston, who
built one of one hundred and sixty tons. Both were
finished in 1641. That of Boston was called the Trial.
Money was not obtainable to pay the carpenters, but
ihey agreed to take the producfe of the country. Thus
commenced a spirit of commerce, which has made the
northern states rich and respectable.
363. Fisheries and trade of the colonies. Within a
few years after the discovery of North America by
Cabot, the English and French began to take great
quantities of fifeh on the American coast, especially on
the banks of Newfoundland. This business had become
of ereat importance, more than fifty years before the
settlement of Plymouth. The fish were mostl)r carried
to Spain and Portugal. The first planters in New
England found their time andmoney so much occupied
in procuring the means of subsistence, that for some
years they could not carry on the fisheries to a great
extent. Their principal article of export was peltry ;
and mostly beaver skins, which they purchased of the
Indians for goods of small value. To procure beaver^
was the first object of the colonies in establishing trading
houses at Kennebec, Qpnnecticut, and other places.
In 1639, a fishing trade was begun at cape Ann, and the
stock employed in it was exempted from taxation for
seven years. This seems to have been the first act of
government for encouraging the fishery. In 1641, three
hundred thousand codfish were sent to market.
364. Importance of tlie peltry trade to the colonies.
Of such value was the trade in peltry, to the first
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158 BI8T0ST OF Tiik tmrrED sTATfeCL
pknten, diat each coUmj daimed and maintltined all
exclusive right of trading with the Indians within the
limits of its own patent. Hence arose serious contests
between the colonies. In 1631, a small pinnace, from
Salem, bound to Boston, was driven into Plymouth by
adverse winds, and the governor of Plymouth '^as so
much alarmed with the &ai that the people should open
a trade with the natives, that he fcnrbad them, and
threatened to oppose them oy force. A similar jealous/
caused a contest between the Plymouth traders at Ken-
nebec and a trading boat from Pascataqua, in which
two men were killed. This trade also was a principal
cause of the controversy between the English and the
Dutch, concerning the right to Connecticut river. And
so valuable was the trade, that the English even planted
maiz for the Indians, the better to enable them to spend
their time in collecting beaver.
365. Progress of trade in the colonies. The planters
imported at first much of their provisions, and for many
years, all their clothing from England. In 1631, on
account of a scarcity in England, their wheat, with the
freight, cost them fourteen shillings sterling a bushel^
and pease eleven and six pence. From Vurginia, they
received small supplies of maiz« In 1^1, a small pin*
nace from Virginia sold her maiz in Salem for ten
shillings sterling the bushel. In the same year, an
English ship, after landing some cattle at Boston, sailed
to St. Kitts, but not to return to New England. In
1634, a vessel went to Bermuda, and returned by the
way of Virginia, with com and oats. The first vessel
directly from the West Indies^ was a Dutch ship, of 160
tons, which came from St. Kitts and arrived at Marble-
head, in May, 1635, laden with salt and tobacco. St<
Kitts had then been settled twelve years, and contained
about four thousand inhabitants. In June, the same
year, arrived two Dutch ships from the Texel, with
norses and cattle ; the price of such animals being high
— horses and mares from thirty to forty pounds sterling
—cows and heifers, from twelve to twenty-five pounds^
and sheep fifty shillings. In April, 1636, the small ship
built at Medford, returned from jBeimuda, with potatoes,.
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Ck)tfiRl«MBNt Aim LAWS. 159
whicK were sold in Boston at two pence the pound 5
com being Tery scarce.
366. Trade to the West Indies. The first American
vessel that went to the West Indies, was a pinnace of
thirty tons, which, in 1636, was bound to Bermuda, and
attempting to return, was forced by stress of weather to
Hispaniola, now Hayti. She returned the next spring
with hides and taUow. The neart year, the Salem ship,
Desire, made a voyage to New Providence and Tortuga,
and returned in March, 1638, laden with Cotton, tobacco^
salt, and negroes. This seems to be the date of the
first introduction of Africans into New England. The
next arrival from the West Indies was a small English
vessel, in 1639, with indigo and sugar ; and this is the
first mention, in our annals^ of the importation of these
articles. In 1642, three ships were built, one at Boston,
one at Salem, and the other at Dorchester. In the same
year, a Dutch ship, from the West Indies, exchanged
her cargo of salt for planlc and pipe staves ; the first
export of lumber to the West Indies mentioned in the
annals of New England, A second ship arrived the
same year, and took a cargo of pipe staves, and ten ships
sailed with lumber before winter. This first discovery
of new markets for lumber excited no small joy among
the planters ; for staves had lain useless on their hands.
367. Trade to otfter fireign countries. In autumn,
1642, a small ship arrived at Boston from Madeira,
laden with wine abd sugar, which* were exchanged for
pipe staves and other commodities. One of the Boston
ships, laden with lumber and fish, made a voyage to
Fayal and the West Indies. The other lumber ships,
which went to the West Indies, made successful voyages^
and returned in the spring of 1643 with wine, sugary
and cotton. At that time, the colonies were in great
distress for food, owing to a bad crop of com; and
otherwise impoverished, so that some of the people
actually left New England, and many talked of aban-
doninj^ the country. The successes or their infant trade
at this juncture gave them new life, contributing to
establish the settlements, and render them prosperous.
. 368, The trade of Connecticut, f he planters pn
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160 HISTORY OF TBI DlflTED STATES.
the Connecticut, occupying a rich scnl, attended rery
little to trade, for many years. They exported horses
and lumber to the West Indies, Fayal, and Madeira ;
but in 1680, the amount did not exceed nine thousand
pounds. At that time, no more than twenty small
vessels belonged to the colony. They had a trifling^
trade with New York, but most of their traders supplied
themselves with goods at Boston, where they sold the
provisions wh ich were extwrted. T he primitive planters
of New Haven contemplated a great trade ; but a ship
x>f one hundred and fifty tons, which they had procured
to be built at Rhode Island, going to sea, in the winter
of 1640-7, foundered, and was lost, with six or seven
of the principal planters ; which, with other discourage-
ments, frustrated their intentions.
369. Arts and manufactures. The first mill erected
by the planters was a windmill, near Watertown ; but
the situation not being good, it was taken down in Au-
gust, 1632, and placed on a hill in Boston. To this
mill, com was brouj?ht from Pascataqua to be ground.
In 1633, a watermill was erected by one Dummer, at
Roxbury. In 1636, a windmill was erected at Charles-
town, and watermills at Salem, Ipswich, and Newbury.
By order of the court, a market was erected in Boston,
in March, 1634, and Thursday was directed to be the
weekly market day. In the same year was set up the
first merchant's shop, and the first house of entertainment
The manufactures of the settlers were very few, and
.confined to the most necessary articles of clothing and
utensils for agriculture. Not being used to clearing lands
of wood, they bestowed more lali^r than was necessary,
as they dug up all the stumps of the trees. B^ bills or
charges now extant, it appears that the clearing of a
home lot in Hartford, cost fifty pounds sterling an acre*
370. Introduction of printing. The first printing .
press in New England, was established at Cambridge, .
m March, 1639, by one Day ; the proprietor's name was
Glover, who died on his passage to America. The first,
thing printed was the freemens' ^th ; the secoiKP, am
almanac ; and the third, a version of the Psalms. No
press was set up in Connecticut t^ntil the y^ar 1709.
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tJdVEJRNMENt ANi) LAWS. 161
When printing was begun at New London by one Short.
The first code of Connecticut laws was revised by the
general court, held at Hartford, in October, 1672, and
printed by Samuel Green, at Cambridge, in Massachu-
setts, in 1W5^» The first gazette published in New Eng-
land wjas the News Letter, printed in Boston, in 1704.
The first newspaper in Connecticut was the Connecticut
tJazette, begun at New Haven, by James Parker, in
Januaiy, 1755, but it was discontinued in 1767, the
printer moving to New York.
371. Foundation of colleges. The first college in
the colonies was that at Cambridge, founded in 1638.
The first commencement was held in October, 1642.
when nine students were admitted to the degree ot
bachelors. It took its name. Harvard^ from a principal
benefactor. For more than sixty years, gentlemen in
Connecticut sent their sons to Cambridge for an educa-
tion ; but in 1699, the clergy in Connecticut nominated
<en of their number, as trustees to found a college.
These met at New Haven in 1700, and formed a society,
which was to consist of eleven clergymen and a rector,
for the purpose of establishing and governing a college.
A charter of incorporation was granted by the legislature,
in October, 1701. Mr. Pierson, of Killinffworth, was
appointed the first rector, and during his life he instructed
the students in that town, The lirst commencement
was in September, 17(^. On the death of Mr. Pierson,
in 1704, the students were placed in Milford and ^ay-
brook, under different instructors, and so continued until
1716, when New Haven vras made the permanent seat
of the college. It is called Yale college^ after the name
of one of its principal benefactors.
372. Estaolishment of public schools. The first
planters of New England, aware of the importance of
Knowledge and leammg amonga free Christian people,
extended their care to me education of their children ;
and sts soon as the first difficulties of obtaining subsist-
ence were overcome, passed laws for encouraging the
general diffusion of knowledge. In Massachusetts and
Connecticut, every tov^n containing a sufficient number
of hoyseholders, was obliged to procure a teacher for
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162 HISTORY OF TUC UNITED STATtd.
such children as parents wished to put under his care.
In Conneclicat, this provision cxtoudod to females as
well as males. And the better to induce every town t<\
avail itself of t!iis provision, tlic law grants and appro-.
priates, to each town or school district, a sum of money
payable out of the treasury of the state, equal to one
nve hundredth part of the value of the taxable property
of the inhabitants, as rated in the grand list or pubHo
assessment. In addition to this, each tovim has the
command of a large fund arising from the sale of a tract
of land called the Western Reserve. In consequence
of which, almost every ciiild in the state has access to»
a school, some part of the year.
Q0ESTI0N3.
332. What sort of govcrnincnts^wero those of New England
by their charters 1
333. How were the first governors of Massachusetts chosen 1
33 1. What were the qualifications of frecTicn or electors 1
335, 336. The first legislature of MassachusetU consisted of
one house, and all the freemen attended. When was the prac-
tice altered 1
340. When aqd hQW was the division into two branches
made?
342. When was voting by proxy introduced 1
343. What was the manner of voting 1
344. How was the governor of Connecticut elected ?
3t5. What'were the first laws of the colonies 1 When was
a body of laws compiled 1
346. What was the character of the first settlers of New
England 1
347. What was the first government of the Plymouth colony 1
343. What was tho supreme judicial power in the colonies .1
349. Why did the Puritans leave England 7 What form
of church government did they establish 7
350. Wnat name did the first settlers give to the days of tha
week and to the months 1 What wad the origin of keeping
Saturday evening as holy time 1
351. What lectures were established in Boston 1
35*2. Why were days of fasting and thanksgiving established 1
353. What was the discipline of the churoies %
354. When was a platform of church government established 1
355. Whence arose ttia union of churches by associations
"onsociations ?
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MILITARY EVENTS. " 163
356. How were the clergy at first supported ? and how at
present 1
357. When was the first Episcopal church collected in Ma»-
^achusetts, and when in Connecticut ?
368. How was property held in the first settlement of Ply-
mouth 1 in common or in severalty ?
359- How did the Puritans attempt to restrain luxui^ ?
360. When was the first vessel built \t\ New England, when
fvas it lanched, and what was it called 7
361. What was the first commerce, and what the money of
the first planters of Massachusetts 1
362. Who built the first ship for foreign trade! Where
was it built 1
363. What were, the chief articles of export ?
363. When was the fishery begun \
364.. What occasioned Jealousies between the colonies ?
365. Whence did the first planters of New England obtain
their provisions and clothing 7
366. What vessel first went from New England to the West
Indies ? and in what year T
366. Where was a market .first found for lumber 1
367. When did the first ship arrive from Madeira 1
368. What articles did Connecticut export ?
368. What great loss <lid New Haven sustain 7
369. When was the first mill erected, and where 1
370. When and by whom was printing intro<luced 7
370. What Was first printed at Cambridge 7
370. When was the nrst printing press estabHshed in Con-
pccticut 7
370. When was the first code of Connecticut laws printed 7
370. When was the first newspaper published 7
371. When was the first college founded, and where 7
371. When was Yale college founded 7
372. What measures did the planters of New England take
to {NTomote education 7
CHAPTER X.
MILITARY EVENTS.
373. Prificipal wars in the colonies. While the
people of this country remained under the dominion of
Great Britain, they were involved in all her contentions
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164 HISTORY or THE DNITBD tFTAttB,
with France and the Dutch. Soon after king William
ascended the tlirone of England, in 1688, war was de-
clared by France, and the French commander in Canada
instigated the savages to fall on the frontier settlements^
It was on this occasion that Schenectady was sacked^
and the inhabitants massacred. To put a stop to th^
depredations of the French and savages, it was contem-
plated to conq[uer Canada. For this purpose, an expe-
dition was projected by the commissioners gf the colonies
in 1690. The crown was solicited to a^ord some fiid,
but it could not be granted, on accpunt of troubles in
Great Britain.
374. Expedition against Canada under sir WiUicuni
Phvj)S» Tne land forces ordered for invasion consisted
of eight hundred and fifty men, raised by the colonies
of New England and New York, and commanded by
general Winthrop. At the same time, a fleet of armed
ships and transports, with eighteen hundred men, under
sir William Phips, was ordered to sail up the St. Law-
rence, to co-operate with the land forces in the reduction
of Q,uebec. But the expedition proved unsuccessful.
The fleet had a long passage, and did not arrive before
Quebec till October. The land troops were not fur-
nished with provisions, nor boats to convey them over
the lake, and they returned. The fbrces, however,
landed from the fleet, and the ships cannonaded Q,uebec,
without much effect, while they suffered severely from
the batteries of the enemy. Stormy weather soon suc-
ceeded, and made it necessary tp abandon the enter-^
prise.
375. Colonel Fletch-er^s commismon. In 1692, colo-
nel Fletcher arrived with the commission of governor
of New York, and also with power to command the
militia and garrisons of Connecticut. The colony im-^
mediately dispatched general Winthrop. as an agent,
to remonstrate to the King and council, against this
extraordinary power, In the mean time, colonel Fletcher
went tP Hartford, and in his majesty's name, required
the colony to surrender to him the command of the
military. The train bands in Hartford were paraded,
and colonel Fletcher directed his secretary to read hia^
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
MILITARY EVENTS. 165
commission. But captain Wads worth, the senior officer,
ordered the drums to be beat, and interrupted the reading.
Colonel Fletcher commanded silence rejjeatedlyj tfll
captain Wadsworth, with a firm tone, told him, " if he
was not silent, he would make the sun shine through
him in a moment." Colonel Fletcher, finding he could
not succeed, judged it expedient to withdraw, and re-
turned to New York.
376. The progress and conclttsion of this war. In
the spring of 1690, sir William Phips, with a few ships
and a small number of men, took possession of Nova
Scotia, and the country from Port Royal to Penobscot.
The Massachusetts colony began to exercise the powers
of government there ; but was interrupted by VUlebon,
a Frenchman, who established himself on tne river St.
John. The French also sent a force from duebec and
took the fort at Pemaquid and demolished it. Upon
which captain Church, with a body of trocq?s, commit-
ted depredations upon the French inhabitants, and* an
attempt was made to take Villebon's fort, bat by ill man-
agement it was frustrated. In 1693, a fleet under sir
Francis Wheeler, was ordered to act against the French
in the West Indies, and then to repair to duebec and in
conjunction with a body of New England troops, re-
duce Canada. But by a malignant fever, which de-
stroyed most of the troops of the fleet, this expedition
was defeated. In 1697, tlie French in Canada planned
an attack upon Boston, and a large fleet was sent from
France to co-operate in the design ; but adverse winds,
and other ill events, frustrated the project In the same
year, a treaty of peace was signed at Ryswick, betwee^k
England and France, and hostilities ceased.
377. War in queen Ann^s reign. Soon after queea
Ann succeeded to the English throne, in 1702 war was
declared against France, and the settlements in New
England were again exposed to the incursions of fero-
cious Frenchmen and Indians from Canada. In 1704^
colonel Church, with a party of men, visited Nova
l^cotia, and distressed the poor inliabitants without
taking any important post. After burning and plunder-
ing seyer^^l towns and villages he returned. In 1707^ a
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
106 blSTORT OF THE UlflTeD STATES.
considerable force was sent under colonel March, to re-^
dace Port Royal, in Nora Scotia ; but after landing and
engaging im some skirmishes, it was judged raw troops
were not sufficient to take so strong a fort, and they r^
tired to Casco. Here a reinforcement was received, aiul
three persons arrived with authority from Massachusetts,,
to renew and inspect the siege. But a second attempt
proved equally unsuccessful. In August V708, a party
of Indians, headed by Frenchmen, assaulted Haverhill
on the Merrimac, burnt some of the houses and slew
thirty or fortv of the inhabitants. Mr. Rolfe, the min-
ister, was killed ; but his maid covered two of his young
daughters with tubs in the cellar, and saved their lives.
378. Progress of this war. Finding the colonies,
could not be safe from the ravages of the French and
Indians, while Canada and Nova Scotia were under the
government of France, Massachusetts solicited, and the
qu^en granted a large naval force, to aid in the reduction
of those provinces. The New England colonies, with.
New York, in 1709, raised about two thousand and five
hundred men, who were commanded by general Nich-
olson. These marched to Wood creek, south of lake
George, and there waited to hear of the arrival of the
expected fleet at Boston, But the fleet did not arrive,
and the troops lay at Wood creek till autumn. While
encamped, they were attacked witn a malignant disease,
which occasioned a great mortality, and compelled theia
to withdraw. Thus ended all tne expensive prepara-
tions for subduing Canada. The next year, however, a
body of colonial troops, under general Nicholson, sailed
to Port Royal, and toot possession of it by capitulation.
379. Expedition under admiral Walker, In 1711,
general Nicholson procured of the queen, a fleet of men
of war and transports, under admiral Walker, for aiding
in the conquest of Canada. This fleet arrived at Bos«
ton in June, and although not expected, the colonies
made the best preparation they could to second the ope-
rations. The whole force, when the British and colo-
puil troops were united, amounted to seven thouMUid
men. General Nicholson went to Albany, intending,
W^h additional forces, to join admiral Walker before
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Military events^ 167
i^uebee. The fleet sailed frcmi ]^ston July dOth, but
inet with fogs and tempestuous weather, near the mouth
of the St. Lawrence, in which- eight or nine transports,
with about a thousand men were lost, by ship wreck.
This put an end to the expedition ; the admind sailed
to England, and the colonial troops returned. The
peace of Utrecht, s^ed March 3d, 171^, put an end to
hostilities, and continued till 1739.
380. The taking cf Lewiaburg, Great Britain de-
clared war against Spain in October 1739, and against
France in March 1744. In the foDowing winter, tiie
legislature of Massachusetts planned a darins:, but suc-
cessful enterprise against Lewisburg. a strong fortress be-
longing to the French, on the isle ot Cape Breton. The
motive was to remove the French, who greatly annoyed
our fishery 5 and governor Shirley was the most active
promoter of the expedition. Four thousand troops from
Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, under
the command of Greneral Pepperel, saiUd from Boston,
the last week in March 1745. Tlie e:qn:;diiion was un-
dertaken without the knowledge of the govern metit of
England ; but a request had l^en made to commodfjri •
Warren, then in the West Indies, to assist in its execu-
tion, who arrived ^ith a sixty gim sLip^ and two or three
frigates. The troops arrived, the latter part of April,
and landing their heavy cannon, planted batteries, with-
out regard 1p system, and pusned the siege with such
vigor, that the garrison capitulated on the 17th of June.
This expedition was as honorable to the projectors, as
ih» acquisition of the fortress was useful to the colonies
and the British empire.
381. French Chebucto fleet In 1746, the French
fitted out a fleet of eleven ships of the line, with a great
number of smaller ships, and more than three thousand
Ismd forces, under the command of the duke Danville,
for t^e purpose of recovering possession of Cape Bre-
ton and attacking the English colonies. This force was
to be joined by four ships under Conflans from the West
Indies, and seventeen hundred French and Indians from
Canada. No English fleet sailed in quest of the French ;
and great was the consternation of the colomes, when
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168 B13T0RY OF THE UMITEil STATES.
news was received that the French fleet was near the
American coast. But kind Providence blasted the hopes
of the enemy. By storms, some of the ships were dam-
aged, and they bore away for the West Indies ; one was
condemned and burnt ; one was forced to return to
Brest by a malignant disease among her crew. A part
of the neet arrived at Chebucto, now Halifax, in Sep-
tember ; but the admiral soon died, and the troops were
sickly ; so that the fleet returned to France and the colo-
nies were providentially relieved from their anxiety.
This war closed by a treaty of peace signed at Aix la
Chapelle, in March 1748.
3^. Plan of a union of the colonies in 1754. All
the preceding wars had left the French masters of Can-
ada ; they were also in possession of Louisiana, a large
tract of country, on the Mississippi. They knew the
value of America, and had early formed the plan of "re-
siraiijiii^ ilie settlfniieiits of the English. This was
their object in all iavir \vars, and for this purpose, they
uniLei) with tUe ItKlian-. in burning towns, and murder-
mg the iiihabitot-^' T'le better to accomplish their de-
signs, they ejcwn I ^ ' it settlements on the St. Law-
ri*n<TG ami ilip 1 ikr -. i I finally attempted to establish
a chai 11 of ( ■ k i Nil | 1 ■ f from Canada to Louisiana, on
llieb^if k 1 4' ii ■ I ,; ^i -'., colonies. This alarmed Great
Britain u^. w ull as Uic colonies, and the British govern-
ment suggested to the colonies, the necessity of confed-
erating for the purpose of mutual safety.
383. Meeting" of comrtUssioners and the plan pro-
posed. In July 1754, commissioners from the northern
and middle colonies met at Albany, and agreed to a plan
of union, ^rawn up by Dr. Franklin. By this it was
proposed that the confederate colonies should have a ge-
neral government, formed by delegates from the several
colonies, and appointed by the houses of representatives,
once in three years. This government was to be ad-
ministered by a president general, who was to be ap-
pointed and maintained by the crown. The powers of
this grand council extended to aflairs of general safety,
especially to the regulation of trade with the Indians,
purchases of their lands, treaties with them, new settle-
uigitizeODy Google
MILITARY SVENTS. 100
Inents, and making proTision for defense, in time of war.
This, plan though obviously salutary for the colonies,
Was not approved by the crown ; probably on account of
a jealousy of the growing strength of the colonies,
which made the British court apprehend a future resist-
ance of the authority of parliament. In lieu of this
plan the British ministry proposed another, which should
be more dependent on the crown ; and by this difference
of opinion, the projected union was frustrated.
384. Beg^inning of the war in 1754. The encroach-
ments of the French, and the erection of forts, on land
claimed by the colonies or the crown of Great Britain,
occasioned an order from the ctown to the colonies to
resist the French. In November 1753, major Wash-
ington, who afterwards coimnanded the armies of Amer-
ica, was dispatdhed by governor Dinwiddie of Vii^nia,
to learn the vieivs of the French^ who bad taken pos-
session of the territory on the Ohio. By the answer of
the French commander, it appeared that the govern-
ment of France claimed the country, and determined to
keep possession. The Virgi nigja^s then ereQje^afort on
the Monongehala, but it wasJ^^Hf the FxeaHHp'54.
In July, the same year, colo^^SKshingtOftJ^BBrom-
manded about four hundred men^was attacked by siy?e-
rior nunibers and obliged to capitulate. In ^765, hos*
tilities commenced between Great Britain and France,
and America became the theater of important ope-
rations.
385. General Braddocle^s defeat. Early in the spring
of 1755^ general Braddock, with two regiments, arrived
in Virginia, and proceeded, together with a body of co-
lonial troops, under colonel Washington, to drive the
French from their fort on the Ohio. Being delayed by
want of carriages and provisions, he did not arrive at fort
Cumberland, till June. Here he left colonel Dunbar
with eight hundred men, to carry forward the provisions
and heavy baggage ; and advancing towards the French
fort, du Ctuesne, which stood where Pittsburg is now
built, his troops amounting to twelve hundred, fell into
an ambush of Indians and French, who being conceal-
ed behind trees, fired with fatal eflfect, upon the British
15
170 BI3T0RT or TBS ONITEO STATES.
aad Americao troops. The general and his principal
ofllcers were killed, wit)i abou^ seven hundred men ; the
temainder wer^ sared by the brave and skillful conduct
of colonel Washington.
dSd. General Jmnaon^s victory. In the same sum-
mer, the northern colonies raised a body of about ^ve
thousand men, who were intended to take Crown Point,
a fort fifteen miles north of Ticonderoga. General
Johnson, who commanded these troops, marched them
to lake Ueorge, where he encamped to wait for bateaus
to transport the men down the lake. While he lay in
that situation, a body of French forces under baron
Dieskau, advanced by South bay, with a view to attack
and seize the camp at the portage, now called fort Ed-
ward. But understanding that the place was defended
by cannon, and that general Johnson's camn was desti-
tute of large guns, tbe baron altered hb plan and at-
tacked general Johnson's troops. The French were re-
pulsed with the loss of several hundred men. An ex-
pedition against Niagara, under governor Shirley of
Massachusetts, was intended, the same year, and a body
of ^jM|Mparched t(^^||ke ; but the execution of the
pla9MHMbrred j^HPount of the lateness of the
season. ^^^
387. 'Conquest of Nova Scotia, In the year 1755l
also, an expedition against Nova Scotia was conducted
by colonel Monckton and general Winslow, with a
small body of English troops and two thousand men
from Massachusetts. The pi'incipal fortress was taken
with little loss, and the country subdued. The inhabi-
tants were descendants from French settlers, and had
frequently changed masters, as their country was con-
quered alternately by the English and French. They
called themselves neutrals ; but it was the determination
of the commanders, in this expedition, that they should
all be removed and their estates connscated. Accord-
ingly, about two thousand men, women, and children,
were transported to New England, dispersed into diffe-
rent towns, and incorporated with the inhabitants.
388. I4O88 of fort Oswego. Although hostilities had
eommenced in 1754, yet no formal declaration of war
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
ftnUTARY^ EVENTS. 171
was made till May, 1756, when it was proclaimed by
the British king in the usual form. Lord Loudon was
appointed governor of Virginia, and commander in chief
of the forces in America. Governor Shirley was recalledL
and general Abercrombie succeeded him in the command
of the forces in the northern colonies. These generals,
with additional troops, arrived, and proceeded to Albany ;
but before they were preparea to begin their operations,
the garrison at Oswego, consisting of fourteen hundred
men, had surrendered to the French. This post was
very important, as it commanded the communication
between Canada and the Ohio. The campaign closed
without any other great event, and the winter was spent
in preparations for prosecuting the war with vigor, the
next ^Ummer.
389. MilUary operations in Americain 1757, Gfreat
preparations had been made to ^ttack Crown Point, but
the plan of operations was changed ; and lord Loudon
wei)t to join admiral Holbom, who arrived in July, with
a squadron of ships, to attack Lewisburg, which had
been restored to France by the peace of 1748. This
plan also was defeated by the previous arrival of a
strong squadron of French ships and a large land force.
Lord Loudon departed, and in the winter following,
went to England ; and the English fleet, after being
shattered by a violent tempest in Septemoer, returned
to England. In the mean time, the French general,
Montcalm, laid siege to fort William Henry, on lake
Greorge, and after a brave defense, without any prospect
of relief, general Webb, the commanding officer, sur-
rendered. Thus the campaign of 1757 ended with
disgrace to the British arms ; while the French were
gaining strength, and multiplying their forts on the back
of the colonies/ These misfortunes were owing to bad
management in the IIM|ish councils, and the want of
concert in the colonies, which were governed by different
legislatures, aad could not be brought to act with union
or energy.
399. Conquest of Cape Breton, in 1758. In 1758,
great efforts were mads to subdue the French in Ame-
rica. Three armies weje employed ; one commanded
■a ay ^<jKjy^\ci\^
news V. .-—•*' ~ * \
Amerir - - ■ _ ^ I
of the « ■_'^
aged, ;ii _ - - **
condcni - ^^
Brest b. - — ja^
of tbe I! -, J^*
tember j "^
sickly ; ^ - - -^"
nies we; - "*--''
This w:i. - '-^
Chapello . ^ - - ^ '^^
382. P '-•
the precc ■ - ^ ^
ada; th^s - ^^-^ *
tract of . _ ■' -■•' -*■
.value of
straining "^"^
their obj^ ■ ■ . - *^^
mnited wi; " , ^ j*
ing the in -: - ' "^^
sigas, th( ■ . -"-'^
rence and -r '•^
a chain ot _ -* ^ ^
the back ut - -. -c ->
Britain as _ -^ ^^ * *
ment su^o^t "^ - jv a*
crating for " - :^
383. M' * . TSi
posed. In ^. .-s-3ff
and middk' ^ '^- lai
of union, d. ' _ - '^z:^
proposed tb. . j^:s
neral govern . _. =^
colonies, an <- _ -^'--*^
once in thrc — ' , , j-cja
ministered 1 ^_^-^»s.
pointed and ^ !
this grand cc ~ ^ * "^
especially to **j_, -f_^
purchases of " , " r 3 ^- I
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
MILITARY EVENTS. 173
I-awyence, near lake Ontario, by a party of colonial
troops, under colonel Bradstreet. This fort was garri-
soned by a hundred and ten men only ; but contained a
g'reat number of cannon, mortars, military stores, prp-
visions- and goods. Nine armed vessels were also taten.
The whole was effected without bloodshed, and the fort
demolished. During these transaction^, general Forbes
marched from Philadelphia, with a considerable body
of" troops, to attack th€ French fort, Duquesne. After
passing the mountains, he detached colonel Bouquet,
Tvith two thousand men, to a position fifty miles in ad-
vance. This officer sent major Grant forward with
eight hundred men, to reconnoiter the fort and country.
The detachment met a superior French force, and was
defeated with the loss of major Grant and three hundred
men. But the French, not willing to risk a siege, aban-
doned the fort, and retired down the Ohio. General
F'orbes took ppssession, and gave it the name of Pitts-
burg, which the towji since built continues to bear.
393. Operations of general Amherst. In l'i'59, the
efforts of the British and Americans to 'reduce the
F'rench were more successful. General Amherst, with
the main army, crossed lake George, to lay siege to
Ticondero^a ; but the French abandoned that i)ost and
Crown Point. General Amherst took ^ssession, re-
paired the fort at Ticonderoga, and leaving a strong
gaxrisqp. in it, proceeded ' to Crown Point, where |i^
raised a new fort. Here he , built a sloop of sixteen
gruns, anc^ large boat for six iujas, with a brig. With
these, and his batteaus, he embarked to proceed down
the lake, but he was baf^ed by tempestuous weather.
The land forces were cptppelled to returp, but the
armed vessels proceed^i ana drpve aifeore three of th?
French vessels. Geneflb. A^nherst spent the winter in
completing- the fortifications at Crown Point, and in
opening" roads 16 the colonies.
394. Redzbction of Niagara, During thes^ trans-
actions, general Pridfeaux laid siege to the French fort
at Niagara, in the prosecution of which he was killed,
iw)d the. command devtJlved on sir William Johnson.
This officer urged the siege, and defeated a party ot
15^
174
mSTORY OF THE UXITED STATES.
troops, coming from Detroit to Venango, to the relief
of the place. This success hastened the surrender of
the fort, which capitulated the last week in July. This
was a valuable acquisition, as well as the possession
of Crown Point and Ticondero^a.
DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE.
395. Victor]/ of general Wolfe, and surrender of
Quebec. The forces destined against Q,uebec were
intrusted to general Wolfe, a young officer, who had
distinguished himself, the preceding year, af the siege
of Lewisburg. The army, amounting to eight thousand
men, landed on the isle of Orleans, below Cluebec, in
June. Q,uebec stands on a rock, at the confluence of
Charles river and the St. Ljlrrence ; it is naturally
strong, and was well fortified and defended by a superior
force under jjfacral Montcalm. General Wolfe had to
contend wife immense difficulties, and a detachment
* of his troops attacking the French entrenchments at the
falls of Montmorenci, was repulsed with the loss of five
hundred men. At length the British troops landed in
the night, and ascended a steep; craggy cliff, to an ele-
uigitizeaoy Google
MIUTAHY EVENTS. 175
valed place which commanded the town. This com-
pelled the French to hazard a battle, which was fought
on the 13th of September, in which general Wolfe was
killed, and the French general, Montcalm, mortally
wounded*; but the French were defeated ; and in a few
days the town was surrentlered to general Townsend
upon capitulation.
398. Operations at Quebec in 1760. General Murray,
with six thousand troops, was left to garrison Q^uebec.
By means pf the rigors of the climate, and a want of
fresh provisions, one thousand of these men died before
spring, with the scurvy, and two thousand were disabled
from duty. Near the close of April, the French troops,
which had been collected during the winter, to the
number of ten thousand, attacked general Murray, and
defeated his small army, with considerable loss. But
general Murray retreated to the town, which he bravely
defended, against superior numbers, until tlie arrival of
a squadron of ships, and the destruction of the French
ships in the river^^ induced the French commander,
Vaudreuil^ to abandon the siege.
397. Final reduction of Canada, Early in the
summer of 1763, general Amherst put in motion his
troops, with a view to attack Montreal, the last fortress
of consequence remaining in the hands of the French.
Advancing from Albany to the lake, he took the French
fort al Isle Royal, and proceeded down the St. Lawrence
to Montreal, where he was joined by general Murray,
from duebec. While preparing to lay siege to the
place, Vaudreuil made offers of capitulation, which were
accepted, and the town was wrrendered on the 7th of
September. A small FrenclT squadron, sent with pro-
visions and stores to relieve th© troops at Montreal, was
destroyed by captain Byroo, in the bay of Chaleurs.
yhe inhabitants of Canada submitted, and took the oath
of allegiance to the British crown. Thus, after a cen-
tury of wars, massacres, and destruction, committed by
the savages, the colonies were secured from ferocious
invade*, and Canada, with a valuable trade in furs,
came under the British dominion.
398. J^xpedition .of colonel Montgomery. Whue
ly vj\^7\^vi\^
Its HI9T0RV OF THE UNITED STATES.
the trooDS were conquering Canada, the CherokeeSj a
powerful tribe of savages, were committing outrages on
the frontiers of Virginia and Carolina. Governor Lyt-
tleton, of South Carolina, with a body of colonial troops,
entered the country, and obliged the Indians' to sue for
peace, which was granted. But the savages violated
fhe treaty, and attempted to surprise a fort on the fron-
tiers of Carolina. General Amherst, on application,
sent colonel Montgomery, with twelve hundred troops,
to protect the southern colonies. This oflScer penetrated
into the heart of the Cherokee country, plundering and
destroying all the villages and magazines of com. In
revenge, the savages besieged fort Loudon, on the con-
fines of Virginia ; the garrison, after bein^ reduced to
extreme distress, capitulated ; but on theur march to-
wards Carolina, a body of savages fell upon the party,
and murdered five and twenty of them, with all the
officers, except captain Stuart.
"399. Progress and termination of this war. Colo-
nel Montgomery being obliged by his orders to return to
Canada, Uie Carolinians were alarmed for the safety of
the colony, and prevailed with him to leave four compa-
nies of men for their defense. Canada being entirely
subdued, general Amherst sent colonel Grant, with a
body of troops, who landed at Charleston early in 1761.
These troops, being joined by a regiment of colonial
forces under colonel Middleton, undertook an expedi-
tion into the Cherokee country ; in which they defeated
the savages, with the loss of fifty or sixty of their own,
men. After destroying fourteen Indian towns, with the
com and stores, the troof^ repaired to fort Prince George
for rest and refreshment. In a few days after, several
chiefs of the Indians arrived with proposals of peace,
which were gladly received and peace concluded.
400. ConcluMon of the war in Europe^ and the
peace of Paris. The reduction of Canada, and the ex-
pulsion of the French from the Ohio, put an end to ina*
portant military operations in America. The great pur-
pose of the war, "w^ich was to expel or cripple the powr
er of the French, on the western frontiers, was happily
f ccompliahed. In Europe, the war continued to rage^
MILITARY EVENTS. 177
and in the West Indies, the British, aided by colonial
troopSp took Havanna from the Spaniards in 1762 ; an
expedition in which multitudes of men fell victims to
the bilious plague. But on the 10th of February, 1763,
a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris, by
which the French king ceded Nova Scotia, Cape Bre-
ton, and Canada to the British king, and the middle of
the Mississippi, from its source to the river IbBerville,
and the middle of that river to the sea, was made the
boundary between the British and French dominions in
America. Spain ceded to Great Britain, Florida and
all her possessions to the east of the Mississfppi. Such
was the state of the European possessions in America,
At the commencement of the revolution.
aUESTIONS,
374. Why did the expedition against Canada under sir
William Phips fail 1
375. Who attempted to bring Connecticut under New York,
and what was the result 1
376. Who took possession of Nova Scotia in 1690^1
377. What events took place in the war in Gtueen Ann's
reisn 1
378. What expedition was planned against Canada 1
379. What attempt was planned against Canada in 1711,
and what was the result 1
380. When and how was Lewisburg taken 1
381. What great expedition was planned by the French to
recover Ca[je Breton, and what the event 1
382. What plan was formed in 1754 to secure the colonies 1
383. What was the result of the plan 1
384. What occasioned the war of 1754 % When and in
what manner did general Washington commence his military
career 1 ^
385. Where was general Braddock defeated 7
386. Wbo planned to take Crown Point %
337. When and by whom was Nova Scotia conquered ?
What was done with the inhabitants 1
388. Who were the commanders of the English forces in
America in 1756 1
389. What were the military operations in 1757 1
390. When and by whom was Cape Breton re-taken %
391. What great defeat did the English suffer under general
Abercrombie ]
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
178 HISTORY OP THE 0NITED STATES.
393. Who took fort Duquesne, and gave name to PUtabarg?
393. Who took Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1759 1
394. Who took the fort at Niagara 1
395. Who defeated the French before Ctnebec, and was
killed 1
397. Who reduced Canada in 1760 1
398. Who defeated the Indians in Carolina 1
399. What defeated the Cherokees ?
400. What put an end to militarf operations in the coloniesl
When was peace between EIngland and France signed ?
CHAPTER XI.
BlUf^ OF CREDIT.
401. History of paper money. After the year 1080,
wliile the people ot America were subject to the crovn
of Great Britain, their commerce was entirely regu-
lated by acts of parliament, which limited and restrained
the trade of the colonies principally to British ports. By
this means the colonies were deprived of the oenefit of
many of the best markets for their produce ; and the en-
terprising spirit of the inhabitants was checked, or ren-
dered subservient to the politic views of the parent state.
In consequence of these disadvantages, the balance of
trade was usually against the colonies ; that is, they im-
ported goods to a greater value than they exported ; and
the difference was paid in specie, as long as it could be
procured. This unprofitable trade exhausted the colo-
nies of money, to a distressing degree ; and when the
public exigencies called for extraordinary taxes, the })eor
pie could not^ pay them in cash. For a long period,
taxes were paia in produce, which was deposited m pub-
lic stores and sold to raise money. But this was very
iroublesome and expensive ; ana the colonies adoptea
he plan of issuing bills of credit for a medium of trade^
in lieu of specie.
402. First emission of bills of credit in AfassachU"
setts. The colony of Massachusetts, in 1652 coined,
into small pieces/^a quantity of silver bullion taken from
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filLLS OF CREDIT. ITU
the Spaniards, or received from the West Indies, in the
course of trade. The pieces bore the figure of a pine
tree, and circulated in New England. This practice
continued more than thirty years, and this was the only
instance of a mint in the colonies. But this coinagfe
extended only to small change, and could not supply
the requisite cash for the coIodv. The unfortunate ex-
pedition against duebec in 1690, had created a consid-
erable debt against Massachusetts which there was no
money in the treasury to pay. When the soldiers re-
turned, they clamored for their wages ; a tax was laid
io raise the money ; but to prevent a mutiny, the colony
issued bills of credit which were to be received in pay-
ment of the tax. With these the soldiers were paid ;
the value of them sunk immediately one third ; but &s
the bills were receivable on the tai, as the time of pay-
ment approached, they gradually appreciated.
403. Subsequent emissions of paper money. To de-
fray the expenses of another expedition against Q,uebec
in 1711, Massachusetts issued a large sum in bills of
credit, and in 1714 and 1716 no less than the value of a
half million of dollars. Besides these sum^, the colony
had, from time to time, issued bills to pay the expenses
of government, and neglected to redeem the bills, until
their depreciation, and its consequent evils had alarmed
the crown, and a royal order had been sent to the gover-
nor to restrain all further emissions, until the bills extant
should be redeemed. Many schemes i^ere projected to
preserve the value of the bills j some part of them were
lent to individuals on securilty ; others I'ested on the
faith of government, which was pledged to redcCTn
them ; in one case a private company was formed to sup-
port their declining credit. But all expedients failed,
and in 1749, when the sums in circulation, amounted to
ijiore than seven millions of dollars, the value had sunk
to about one twelfth of the value of specie.
404. The redemption of tJve Massachusetts bills.
The honorable efforts of Massachusetts in the conquest
of Lewisburg, had induced the parliament of Greiat
ibritain, to grant one hundred and eighty thousand
potbids sterlmg, to indemnify that colony for her ex-
Digitized by CjOoqIc
190 HISTORY OF THfe UNITED STATES.
penses. While the bill for this grant was depending',
the legislature of Massachusetts passed an act that, with
the specie which was expected from England, the bills
of credit should be purchased, at the rate of fifty shil-
lings in paper for an ounce of silver, or nearly seven and
a half for one. This act was fortunately carried into
effec^ though much against popular clamor, and thus
was redeemed the largest part of the paper currency.
The remainder was directed to be paid into the treasury
upon taxes, and an end was put to a multitude of frauds,
and numberless public evils, arising from the circulation
of a depreciated currency.
405. Paper currency of South Carolina, In 1702,
Crovemor Moore of South Oerolina, rashlj; undertook
an expedition against St. Augustine, a Spanish town in
East Florida ; me plan was disconcerted by the arrival
of two Spanish ships and abandoned, in a cowardly
manner. As the colony then did not contain more than
seven or eight thousand white people, the expenses of
the expedition were too considerable to be defrayed by
an ordmary tax ; and the colony issued bills of credit for
the purpose. This was the first experiment. As the
sum was not large, the bills answered a good purpose,
and for some years retained their value. But the war
against the Tuscaroras and other savages in 1712, crea-
ting another heavy debt, the colony issued forty thou-
sand pounds, which was lent on landed or personal
security, and made payable into the treasury in ten in-
stalments of four thousand pounds each. This sum
was so large that the value speedily sunk one half, and
ultimately to one seventh. The depreciation caused
great uneasiness ; the planters paying their debts to their
creditors and- the merchants, in a medium of less value
than gold and silver. The rate of exchange remained
at seven for one, until measures were taken to redeAn
the bills.
406. BiUa of credit in New York and Pennsylvania^
The first issumg of paper currency in New York, was
in 1709, and the occasion was the great expense of the
fruitless preparations for attacking Canada m that year.
The sums first issued were not large, and such reguhi-
licMis were ad(^ted for redeeming the paper, as to pre-
vent, in a great measure, the evils of depreciation.
Considerable smns were afterwards emitted, and gradu*
ally called into the treasury and canceled. In 1722,
Pennsylvania issued her first paper curreney^ amounting
to fifteen thousand pounds; hy subsequent emissions
the sum was augmented to eighty thousand pounds,
which sum was extant in 1740. Tnis paper was made
a legal tender; so that creditors were obliged to take it
as gold and silver. " As it sufiered some depreciation,
the proprietaries were alarmed for fear they should re-
ceive their rents in a depreciated medium, and opposed
the emission of paper until the assembly had made them
a grant to secure to them the full value of their rents in
sterling money.
407. G&nercd^ remarks on hills of credit. All the
colonies sooner, or later issued bills of credit to supply
the place of specie, which Was scarce and not sufficient
for a current medium. In those colonies where the pa-
per was immediately called in hy taxes and duties, it
depreciated but little ; in others, it sunk to a low valucj
and gave debtors an opportunity to defraud their Cred<^
itors, by paying them in a depreciated currency. As the
paper could not circulate in foreign countries, it would
not answer for a remittance for goods imported; mer-
chants of course preferred specie to paper, and silver
rose in value. In short, a paper currency while the
country was rapidly settling, and its trade restricted,
was very useful in many respects ; but it also produced
great evils. It gave rise to unceasing jealousy and con-
tentions, between the royal and proprietary governors
and the assemblies of the colonies; for the governors
strenuously opposed the issuing of paper. Had the co-
lonies been indulged in a free trade, they would have
had gold and silver enough ; but ah unrestrained com-
merce could not be enjoyed, until the colonies became
independent.
408. Origin of the different rates of coin in th4
colonies. For ahnost a century after the settlement of
America, the colonies rated coins in sterling money, at
in Great Britain. But the scarcity of money finally
16
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483 filSTORT Vf VHE UNITED 8TAT£8.
called for a remedy, and some of the colonies attempted
to Temoye the difficulty^ by passing laws to raise the
nomisal value of foreign coins. This occasioned a
royal proclamation, in 3ie sixth year of queen Ann.
A. D. 1706, which fixed the current nominal vakte oi
coins in the colonies at one fourth abore the nominal
value in sterling money ; so that a dollar, which was
four shillings and six pence sterling, passed for six
shilling. In New England and Virginia this became^
and still remains the current denomination. But m
some of the colonies, the depreciation of their paper
currency, the scarcity of money, and the current rate of
exchange between paper and specie, raised the nominal
value of silver and gold still higher. In New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and Maryland, the value of the dollar
was established, and continues, at seven shillings and
niX pNence ; in New York and North Carolina, at eight
shillings. In South Carolina and Greorgia, it rose only
to four and eight pence; or. two pence in the dollar
above the steiiing' value. But these are differences
merely in name, for the real value is the same in all the
states ; in other words, the pound and the shilling differ
in value but not the dollar.
41UESTI0N9.
401. How was the trade of the colonies restrained, white
tinder the British crown 1 What rendered it necessary to 6mit
bills of credit *}
403. What coin was made in Massachusetts'? What colony
first emitted bills of credit 1
403. How much papier was issued by Massachusetts, and
how much did it depreciate 1
404. How were the bills of credit redeemed 1
405. When and why were bills of credit issued m South
Carolina, and what was the effect ?
406. When did New York, and when did Pennsylvania,
first issue paper currency t
407. Wily are bills of credit less valuable for currency ^uoi
com?
40a How did the ^ffetesd rates of emk in the cokxam
"oanginate?
,y Google
PIRACY. -r** ife*
CHAPTER XII.
PIRACY.
409. Piracy in the American seas. In the two first
centuries after the Spaniards settled in America, the
land and the sea were infested hy pirates and freebooters,
to a degree never before known in the civilized world.
These robbers had their ori^ among some miserable
fugitives of the French nation, who had begun a plan-
tation at St. Kitts, and being dispossessed by the Span-
iards, fled to the northern part of Hispaniola, now Hayti.
There they lived at first, by hunting swine and cattle,
which abounded in the mountains, and there acquired
the name of hucaneers, from the practice of drying and
preserving their beef and pork called in French houcaner.
After living some time m tnis manner, some of them
became cultivators ; others betook themselves to piracy.
Many of them settled on the isle, Tortuga, near the
eoast of Hispaniolsi ; and being accustomed to an un-
restrained equality, they lived in a state of democracy,
every man being the master of his own family ; the
commander of a boat or ship was liable to be discarded
by the crew, and in a division of the plunder, he had
only a single share, like a private, unless given to him
as a gratuity.
410. Ravages of the bucaneers. These lawless
freebooters fortified themselves in Tortuga ; and forming
themselves into companies, sallied forth in quest of
plunder by sea and land. They had a roecial antipathy
to the Sij^niards, and when they found a ship alone,
they boldly grappled and boarded her ; usually putting
all the crews to death. When loaded with plunder,
they returned and divided it, with the most scrupulous
justice ; then spent their time in all kinds of vice and
debauchery, until their booty v(^s expended. Enjoying
a perfect state of liberty and equality, there was no law
to restrain their excesses, and when their plunder was
gone, they were reduced to want and misery. They
ihen went forth to seek more plunder, and pillage honest
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
164 fiurroRT of the united states.
and industrious men. At length, their numher was so
increased by desperate fellows from France, Holland,
and England, that they became formidable to all Spanish
America. They composed an army of twelve hundred
men, and attacked several Spanish towns on the conti-
nent, murdering the people, and plundering the houses.
In 1697, they took Carthagena, and effects to the value
of seven or eight millions of dollars ; but on their return,
they met a fleet of Dutch and English ships, which took
ana sunk a number of theirs. This gave them a: check
from which they never recovered. They were hunted
t)y tbe nations of Europe, and partly by force and partly
by encouragements to cultivation, this nest of villains
'V^ destroyed.
ATTACK OP THE BCCANEERS.
411. Piracies on the American coast The spirit
of piracy extended, in a greater or less degree, to the
East Indies, and to the North American colonies.
About the year 1699, one Bradish, a boatswain's mate,
in an English ship bound to India, in an illegal voyage,
conspired with the crew, left the captain on an isle, and
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DISEASES AND REMARKABLE EVENTS. 185
tamed pirate. Coming to America to deposit his spoil,
Briadish was taken, sent prisoner to England, and exe-
cuted. One Kidd was still more notorious. This man
was master of a vessel, and sailed from New York,
where he had a family. Being in London, he was
selected, upon recommendation, to command a ^hip
fitted out for the express purpose of suppressing piracies
in India. But he turned pirate himself, sailed to India,
and there hegan the praptice of rohhing. Returning to
America, he landed and appeared at Boston, where he
was taken, sent to England, and executed. The trade
of Carolina suffered greatly hy a nest of pirates settled
at New Providence, which became a receptacle of va-
gabdnds, after the proprietors of Carolina had released
iheir right to the Bahamas to a' company of merchatits.
The gulf of Florida was at their command, and the j
trade to the West Indies was almost ruined, 'the
ministry in England charged the oslonies with harboring
those lawless rascals ; but without foundation. After
many years, and great exertions, the seas were cleipreil
of freebooters. M,
aUESTIONS.
' 409. When were the Ameriean seas infested with piratott 1
Who were the first pirates 1
409. 410. Who were the bucaneers 1 How did they live 1
410. What ravages did the pirates commit, and how were
they subdued 1'
411. Who wa9 the noted pirate on our coast, and what was
bb&te?
^ CHAPTER Xin.
DISEASES AND REMARKABUB EVENTS.
412. Diseases tJiat afflicted the colonies^ atid other
remarkable events,. The first settlers iti America had
to contend with hardships, scarcity of provisions, a
defiree of cold in winter and heat in summer, which
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
196 aisnioHT op thb united arrArva,
they bad not experienced in Europe, and with the
diseases of the country, to which were added such as
arose from their wants and toil. In 1620, half of the
Plymouth settlers died ; and in 1630, the colony of
Massachusetts lost more than one hundred, by fevers
and the scurvy. In 1633, the colony of Plymouth lost
twenty of its inhabitants, by an epidemic pestilential
fever. In 1635, the mortality in Virginia, by the ac-
counts then received in New England, extended to
^igl^teen hundred persons. On the first of June, 1638^
w3s a severe convulsion of the earth, called the great
earthquake. This was succeeded by a general preva-
lence of the small pox and fevers, on which account, a
general fast was observed in December. Shocks of tke
^arth were repeated attimes, till December, when they
wese frequent Two tremendous storms happened the
same year, one in August and the other in December,
in which the tide rose fourteen feet above spring tides,
at Narraganset,<iand Sowed twice in six hours. Another
iempest ecjually severe occurred on the 16th of March,
o^ style, m 1639, and such a rain that the Connecticut
I^Qie twenty feet abo^ the meadows.
413. ContiniKition of remarkable events. On the
fifth of March, 1643, ^was another violent earthquake in
New Englanq, hut no damage was sustained. The
preceding summer had been wet and cold ; crops of com
were indifferent ; English grain had suffered m an un-
usual degree, by wild pigeons ; and in winter the barns
were infested by such numbers of mice as were never
before known. These animals were so numerous as to
eat the bark of the fruit trees, about the roots, under the
snow. These causes occasioned a dearth, and many
families, their con; being exhausted in ^^^^ were
compelled to live on clams and fish. In 164TRippene^
the first influenza mentioned in the annals of America,
It extended to the West Indies, where it was immedi-
ately followed by a malignant fever so fatal and infec-
tious as to be called the plague; In Barbadoes and St
Kitts, it swept away five or sii thousand peppje ; seizing
first the most halcj robust n^en. This is the first distinct
S??'^*^'^^ ®^ *^* epidemic yellow fever mentioned in ouf
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BISEA3S8 AND REMARKABLE EVENTS. l^
histories. A pestilential fever prevailed in Hartford the
same year, of which died the reverend Mr. Hooker.
414. Continuation of remarkable events, A slight
earthquake was felt in New England in October 1653. ^
Some general sickness prevailed in Massachusetts ; for
in the spring of the next year, a fast was appointed in
* Connecticut, for which one reason assigned, in the pro-;
clamation was " the mortality which had been among
the people of Massachusetts." In 1655, another influ-
enza spread over New Englai^d. In 1658 epidemic
disease a^ain prevailed, on which account, and the
scarcity of grain and intemperate season, a fast was ob-
served in Connecticut. In 165t5, the disease called rat-
tles, hives, or croup first appeared in the colonies. In
1663 happened in New England, an earthquake, a se^
vere drouth, and epidemic disease ; on the abatement of
which our pious ancestors kept a day of thanksgiving.
In 1658, a malignant sickness prevailed in New Yonc
and occasioned the appointment of a fast in September.
In 16T7, the small pox raged in Charlestown, in Massa-
chusetts, with the mortality of the pfegue : and in the
following year it prevailed, in Boston.
415. Continuation of remarkable events. In 1683,
great sickness prevailed, and the people sou^^ht the
thioae of grace by a general fast. During the winter, a
fever so general and so fatal prevailed in Springfield in
Massachusetts, that the public worship on Sundays was
suspended. A similar disease afflicted the sarne town
in 1711, in 1733 and 1761. It ra^ed at Hartford in 1717,
Fairfield suffered equally by a malignant fever, in 1698
after the influenza ; Waterbury in. 1713 : Bethlem it\
1750 and 1763. East Haven was repeatedly visited,
and stdjri^d of a ^reat part of its most robust men.
JThe last^ne, was m 1761. This violent fever prevailed
in many other places, with great mortality. In 1703,
New York was sorely visited with a. pestilential fever ;
almost all the patients died. Philadelphia, and Charles-
ton in South Carolina, sufiered by a like'disease in 1699.
On the 29th of Octolier 1727, occurred an earthquake in
Nevv England, as violent as any of the former ones,
piighter shocks are i;iot infrequent. On the 18th of
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188 HIBT0R7 OF TBS UNITED STATES.
November 1755, happened a shock of similar violence ;
but no injury was sustained.
416. ContinucUion of remarkable events. The influ-
enza prevailed in 1733, and spread over the world. In
1735 commenced the scarlet fever^ or malignant sore
throaty at Kingston, an inland town in New Hampshire,
and visited most parts of America, in that and the fol-
lowing year. Tms was its first appearance in America,
as far as could be recollected. Before that period^ the
usual form of dbease in the throat, was that of a qumsy,
which was often malmiant and fatal. From the year
1735 to 1800, the malignant sore throat was epidemic,
six times, in the north(*m states. The influenza from
1732 to 1800 prevailed nine times as an epidemic. The
long fever, so called because it continued thirty or forty
days, was formerly very common in New England.
417. Urvuswd seasons. The seasons in all countriea
in the temperate climates, are very variable. The win-
ter of 1633—4 was mild ; the wind mostly from the
southward, with little snow till February, and no great
frost. That was followed by cold winters, and in 1637
or 8, the winter was noted as unusually severe ; the snow
lay about four feet deep from the middle of November
to the first week in April. But the winter of 1641 — 2
was of the severest "kind ; Boston bay was a bridge of
ice as far as th^eye could see ; and the Chesapeak also
was frozen. The Indians told our ancestors that such
a winter had not been in forty years. A similar winter
occurred in 1697 — 8. The fourteenth -day of Decem-
ber O. S. 1709 was supposed to be the coldest day that
had been known in America. In February 1717 fell the
greatest snow ever known in this, or perhapgjuiy coun-
try. It covered the lower doors of houses. ^|that peo-
ple were obliged to step out of their chamoer windows
on snow shoes. There was a terrible tempest. Eleven
hundred sheep, belonging to one man, perished. One
flock of a hundred, was dug out of a snow drift on
Fisher's island, where they had been buried to the depth
of sixteen feet. This was* twenty eight days after the
storm, when two of them were found alive, having su^-
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DISEASES AND REMARKABLE EVENTS, 189
sisted on the wool of the others, and they sustained no
injury.
418. Continuation of unusiial seasons, A memo-
rable tempest is recorded to have happened on the 24th
of February 1723, which raised the tide several feet
above the usual spring tides, and did incredible damage
on the eastern shore of New England. The winter of
1737—8 was Bxtremely severe ; but far less severe than
that which closed the year '1740. A similar winter fol-
lowed the summer of ^779 — 80, when all thfr rivers and
bays, even the Chesape'ak, and Long Island sound were
converted into bridges of ice. The severe cold was of
three months duration, and the snow from three to four
feet deep. Mild winters also occur frequently rr^^is in
1755 and 6— 1774— 1794— 6— and 1801-^2 when th^e
was little frost and snow.
419. Days of unusual obscurity or darkness. . His-
torians have mentioned many instances of extreme
darkness, in the day time, and in some cases, this ob-
scurity had lasted several days. Instances happened in
Europe, in the years 252, 746 and 775. The first in-
stance mentioned in our annals was on the 21st of Octo-
ber 1716 ; the second on the 9th of August 1732, A
similar obscurity happened in Canada and on the lakes,
on the' 19th of October 1762 ; and on three different days
in October 1785. On the 19th of May, 1780, a memo-
rable darkness was spread over all the northern states.
The obscurity was occasioned byr a thick vapor or cloud,
* tinged with a yellow color or faint red, and a thin coat
of dusl was deposited on white substances. In these
instances, the obscurity was so great as to render can-
dles or l^ps necessary at noon day. The darkness in
Canada was followed by squalls of wind, severe thun-
der and m one instance oy a metecHr or fire ball. So \%z
norant were most people of this phenomenon, that many
were excessively frightened ; although it had occurred
three times at least within the period of sixty five years.
420. Northern lights. From the earliest times, we
have some imperfect accounts of lights in the sky ; and
superstition has represented them as the forerunner of
bJoody wars and other calamities. Sometimes historians
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
190 '* BISTORT OF THE UNITED STATES.
speak of them as troops of men, armed and rushing to
battle. Such representations are the eifusions of weak
and timid minds ; these lights and all others in the at-
mosphere proceeding from natural causes, are no more
the harbingers of evil than a shower of rain or a blast
of wind.^For about three hundred years past, our ac-
counts of the northern lights, are tolerably correct.
There was a discontinuance of them eighty or ninety
years, anterior to 1707, when a small light was seen by
persons in Europe. But they (jlid not re-appear in full
splendor, till the year 1716, when they were observed
in England. Their first appearance m America was
December 11, 1719, when they were remarkably bright,
and as people in general had never heard of such a phe-
nomenon, they were extremely alarmed, with the appre-
hension of the approach of the final judgment. All
amusements, all ousiness, and even sleep was inter^
rupted, for want of a little knowledge of history. From
1719 to 1790, these lights were frequent, when they
again disappeared, for a long period.
421. Diseases among" tiZ brutes. The brutes have
at times pestilential diseases which sweep them away in
multitudes. A plague among cattle destroyed a great
part of the species in Germany about the year 800. The
same happened ki Italv and Germany, in 1713, among
eattle and horses. A like mortality among cattle hap-
pened in Holland and some parts of England^ in 1751.
Fortunately no similar plague among useml animals has.
ever happened in America: although at times, there
has been considerable mortality amon^ horses and cat
tie. In 1514, the cats in Europe, perished by a pesti-
lential disease, as thev did lately in Europe a^d Ameri-
ca, in 1797. In 1763, dogs, sheep, mules, poultry-,
swine and horses, in several countries of Europe, were
swept away by unusual diseases. In 1764, the olue fish
all perished or abandoned the shores of Nantucket,
where they had always been in great plenty. In 1775
the oysters at Wellfleet, on Cape Cod, all perished, and
Jjave never since grown on the same banks. In 1*7^,
the cod fish on the ^rand bank of Newfoundland were
mostly thin and ill iuivored. In 1789, the haddock on
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War of tRE REVOLdHONi 19l
the coast of Norway, mostly' or all died, and floatingon
the surface, covered many leagues of water. In 1799,
the small fish on the coast of North Carolina shared a
like fate. At times, oysters are found to be watery,
sickly and ill flavored 5 dogs, wolves and foxes are
affected with madness, and wild fowls perish by
epidemic diseases.
UtTESTlONS.
412. What were the principal diseases that affected the first
settlers 1
412, 413, 414. When were the principal earthquakes 1
413, When was the first influenza noticed 1
414, 416. When did the croup or rattles first appearj and
when the malignant sore throat 1
417, 418. In what years were there severe winters 1
419. In what years was there an unusual darkness 1
420. When were northern lights first seen in New Englandl
421. When was there unusual -mortality offish on the
American coast 1
• OHAPTEttXIV.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
422. Bemote causes of the revolution. The first plant'
enrof New England were all dissenters from the cnurch
of England, who declined to conform to its ritual and cer-
emonies, and by their opposition, called down upon their
heads the vengeance of archbishop Laud. To get rid
of such uneasy subjects, was rather to be desired, than
dreaded, by the king and court. But within a few years,
the numerous emigrations from England alarmed the
government, and orders were issued to stop the sailing
of ships bound to America. These orders however
were temporary, and most or all those men departed
from Ensiand, who wished to settle in a country, where
they mi^t be exempt from arbitrary government. As
the plantations increased, and became respectable, the
court of England began to be alarmed with the appr j-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
Ids HISTORY OF THE UlflTED BTATESI.
hension, that the colonies would become wholly inde-
pendent of the parent state.
423. Measures to prevent the independence of the
colonies. With a view to secure the dominion of Eng-
land over the colonies, in ecclesiastical as well as civil
affairs, king Charles the first granted a commission,
dated April 10, 1634, by which he empowered the two
archbishops, with certam other persons, to superintend
the colonies, to erect courts, civu and ecclesiastical, to
reniove governors for causes which to them should seem
meet, to inquire into the conduct of all officers, to pun-
ish ojSenses with fines and imprisonment, to make and
repeal laws and revoke charters.* This extraordinary
commission excited great alarm in the infant colonies,
but the inhabitants determined to resist the execution or
it J and on receiving intelligence that a governor, ap-
pointed by the commissioners, would proceed to America,
the government of Massachusetts hastened the fortifi-
cations in Boston harbor. It does not appear that any
attempt was made to enforce this commission.
434. Colonies under Charles the first and Common-
wealth. During the reign of Charles the first, the
colonies were Irequently alarmed with the report bf
some adt of the English government, to abridge their
freedom. Their enemies represented the people as
aiming at an entire independence, and a plan was
devised and nearly matured, to deprive the colonies of
their charters, and place over them a general governor.
Probably the disputes and civil war in England, were
among the causes which frustrated that plan. After
king Charles was beheaded, and the government of
England assumed the shape of a commonwealth, the
colonies were relieved from their apprehensions, and
the protector, CrOmwell, appeared to favor the views
and interests of the settlers of America. Under his
administration, however, the parliament passed an act
ibr encouraging the commerce of England, which was
the groundwork of the famous-Navigation Act, in 1660,
which restrained the trade of the colonies, and was the
means of drying up the sources of their prosperity.
425. State of the colonies under Charles the second.
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
VTAR OP THE mBVOLUTION. 193
Upon the restoration of the monarchy in England, the
' colonies submitted, and sent addresses, congratulating
the king on his accession to the throne. Connecticut
and Rhode Island obtained charters with ample priyi-
Wes, and so well pleased was the king with the respect-
ful manner in which they treated him, that he wrote
letters, giving most flattering assurances that he Would
|>rotect me colonies in all meir chartered rights. He
also appointed commissioners to ezmnine the state of
the colonies, and decide controversies between them<
*rhe king required that the laws derogatory to the crown
should be regealed ; that free liberty should be given to
Use the common prayer, and the service of the church
of England ; that all persons of honest lives should be
admitted to the sacrament, and their chil<£ren to baptism ;
luad that magistrates should be chosen and freemen
admitted, without regard to opinions and professions of
religion. The king required also that every; person in
the plantations should take the oath of allegiance to his
majesty. These requisitions gave the colonies some
tdann, and indicated that the king was apprehensive
the people intended to become independent The unimi
of the tour colonies was regarded by the crown with an
eye of jealousy, but the people assured the king's agents,
that it was not intended for the purpose of casting off a
dependence on England.
426. Opposition to the Navigation Act, No mea-
sure of the English court or parliament excited more
discontent, or was resisted with more firmness, by the
Urst settlers, than the law for regulating the trade of
England and the colonies, first enacted by the parliament
in 1651, during the administration of Cromwell, and in
1660, re-enacted by the king and narliament with con-
siderable additions. By this act. all trade with England
and the colonies was restricted to English ships, the
masters of which, and three fourths, at least, of the sea-
men, were to be English ; and the colonies were pro-
hibited from shipping many of their most valuable articles
to any ports but to England, where they were to be
landed, before they could be sent to market in any other
country. This regulation threw the advantages of the
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194 BISTOni^ OP THE ONIT£D StAl^S.
colonial trade into the hands of the English; httt.de*
prived the colonies of their best markets. The coloniesf
opposed the execution of it many years ; at length, ill
1680, governor Leet, of Connecticut, submitted, and
took the oath required. But Massachusetts' was more,
obstinate, and her opposition was one of the reasons fOT
yacatin^ her charier. She finally submitted to the
regulations, by i)assing a law requiring them to be
observed, but denied the right of parliament to bind the
colonies to observe them.
427. Agency of Randolph. The king, determined
to enforce the Navigation Act sent over Edward Ran-
dolph, with powers to inspect tne conduct of the colonies,
to make seizures for breaches of the act ; and, in short,
to be a common informer. This man made it his busi-
ness to collect charges against the colonies, and return
to England to excite the jealousy of the English gov-
ernment. In this manner, the way was prepared for
annulling the charters of the colonies, and the appoint-
ment of sir Edmund Andross as governor general over
New England and New York. This .was the conse-
quence of a determination in the king and ministry to
check and subdue the growing spirit of independence in
the colonies ; but Andross overacted his part ; and his
tyrannical proceedings only served to alienate the peo-
ple's ajSections from the parent state, and prepared the
way for that independence which the king dreaded.
428. Colonies under king William and queen Ann.
The colonies under Charles and James were despoiled
of their charters, and they sufiered the tyranny of An-
dross with a spirit of just indignation. King William
was more favorableto the colonies ; Connecticut resumed
her old charter, and Massacliusetts obtained a new one,
in which the king regained the power of appointing the
governor, and the governor was vested with the power
of negativing the choice of councilors, made by the
house of representatives. It was supposed that this
power in the king would secure a predominant influence
to the crown over the legislature and colony. But it
had the contrary effect, and created a fruitful source of
animosity between the two branches of the legislature^
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WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. IdS
which ended only with the revolution. The governor
and council were the advocates for. extension of royal
prerogative ; the house of representatives was confided
in, as the guardian of the rights of the people. In queen
Ann's reign, a new attempt was made to aholis^ the
■colony charters, and place the appointment of a general
governor in the crown, but it was frustrated.
429. Controversies in the colony of New York. The
government of New York, like that of Massachusetts,
was what was called a royal government ; the king ap-
pointed the governor, who had the power of approving
the speaker of the house of representatives. But in this
kind of government the assembly was bound to provide
the governor with his salary. This was an unceasing
source of discord. When a good understanding did not
subsist between the governor and the assembly, which
often happened, the assembly would withhold a grant
of the governors salary, to compel him to give his assent
to some favorite bill of theirs ; the governor, on the
other hand, if he wished to obtain a large grant, or to
carry some favorite point, would withhold his assent to
their favorite bills, until they had complied with his
wishes.
430. Controversies in Pennsylvania, By the char-
ter of Pennsylvania, the proprietary and his heirs and
assigns, were governors of the province ; the coimcil
and assembly were to be chosen by the freemen. But
in sales of land, the proprietary not only took purchase .
money, but reserved an annual quit-rent, with the pretext
of furnishing the means of supportins the government
with dignity. The proprietary himself seldom resided
in America, but delegated a substitute to act in the ca-
pacity of president or governor, who had a treble vote
m enacting laws. In a few years, controversies arose
between the governor and the assembly ; and the gov-
ernor prevailed on certain members to withdraw fronpi
the house, to prevent the passing of laws disagreeable
to him. This the assembly voted to be treachery. In
short, that province was distracted by disputes between
the governor and assembly, respecting supplies of money,
salaries, quit-rents, paper currency, and other matter*,
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196 HISTORY OP THE UNITED ETTATES^
from the first settlement to the revolution. A history
of these dissentions, written by Dr. Franklin, forms a
large volume.
4dl. Controversies in Carolina. By the original
coi^stitution of Carolina, the governor and principal
civM officers were appointed or approved by the proprie-
tors, in the Palatine^s court in England. As early as
the ye^r J687, a controversy arose between governor
Colleton and the house of assembly, respecting the
tenure of lands and the payment of quit-rents. The
governor demanded the rent, although not one acre of
land in a thousand was cultivated ; the payment proved
burde9Some ; and the people declined it. Hence arose
a contention, which did not end till the assembly re-
nounced the authority of the governor, and held assem-
blies in opposition to him. This ferment subsided, in
a degree^ under the governors Ludwell and Archdale.
But the interest of the proprietors, who urged for rents,
and attempted to restrain the authority of t*he people,
by repealing all laws that enlarged the powers of the
i^ssembly or abridged their own, was so repugnant to the
\^hes and 4emands of the colony, that it was impos-
sible to preserve harmony, and in 1719 the people
revolted.
432. Dissolution of the Proprietors^ charter. TThe
Pjeople gave notice to governor Johnson qf fheir inten-
tion to throw oflf the yoke of the proprietors, elected de-
puties to the assembly, which was held in opposition to
Ihe governor's authority; and notwithstanding his
pppuUrity and remonstrances, the assembly openly de-
K^lared their intention to renounce the authonty of the
proprietors, and submit to the crown. The governor
attempted to dissolve the assembly, but they ordered the
proclamation to be torn from the marshal's hands. T^ey
proceeded to elect James Moore their governor, and he
was proclaimed with applauses. An account of these
proceedings being transmitted to Enp^land, the Caroli-
nians had a hearing before the council of regents, (the
king being in Hanover) who decided that the proprietors
had done acts that amounted to a forfeiture of their
charter, which was accordingly annulled in 17^, and
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WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 197
Cardliiia taken under royal government. The crown
in 1728, purchased the property of seven of the owners,
for seventeen thousand, five hundred pounds.
433. General remarks on the foregoing facts. From
the history of the colonies, it appears that the principles of
their opposition to the parent state, were mostly jjlanted
in the minds of the first settlers, or in their primitive
constitutions of goremment. In New England, an en-
mity to the ecclesiastical power of the English church
naturally fostered an enmity to monarchy ; and this en-
mity was increased by repeated attempts of the crown to
establish its power and prerogatives in the colonies.
This enmity ^dually matured into habitual and sys-
temized opposition, which was greatly encours^d and
confirmed by the speculations on government found in
the writings of Locke, Sidney and others. The au-
thority of these authors Was re-in forced by the parlia-
mentary discussions on royal prerogative and popular
liberty, at the revolution in England. In the pn^rietary
and royal governments, the endless contentions between
the governors and assemblies, encouraged a spirit of in-
vestigation into the extent of the power of tne crown,
and formed the principle of opposition into habit. The
open rupture therefore between Great Britain and the
colonies, was not the sudden effect of a tumultuous op-
position to a particular act of parliament, but the efiect
of hostile prin«iples and habits which had grown out of
a long series of events, and which a few measures of
the British government ripened into jaciion.
434. Immediate catises of the revolution. The pro-
-ceedings of the British parliament, which manifested a
settled determination to keep America subject to the
crown, and subservient to the interests of Great Britam,
-were the direct causes of an opposition to her claims,
which ended in an appeal to arms. As early as 1750,
an act was passed in parliament, to encourage the ex-
portation or iron in pigs and bars, from America to
London ; and to prevent the erecting of any mill in the
colonies for slitting or rolling iron, or any plating forge,
or liimace for making steel. The purpose of the Bri-
tish government was to check the growth of manufac-
17*
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
198 HISTOnV OP TUB CNITED STATES.
turcs in the colonics, and to compel lliem to export their
iron, and import the manufactures of finglanu. This
arbitrary law was enforced, to the destruction of some
machines of the kinds mentioned, and the dissatisfac-
tion of the colonies.
435. Stamp aci. After the peace of 176a, the Bri-
tish parliament formed a plan of raising a revenue by
taxing the colonies. The pretext for it was, to obtain
indemnification for the great expenses of Gre^t Britain
ID defending the colonies, and to enable her to discharge
the debt incurred in the preceding war. But a more in-
fluential motive, was to check the increasing spirit of
opposition, whicn, it was apprehended, would, m time,
mature into a revolt ; the parliament, therefore, deter-
mined to assert its sovereignty and establish the imme-
diate exercise of authority over the colonies. For this
purpose, an act was passed for laving a duty on all
paper, vellum or parchment, usea in Amenca, and
declaring all writings on unstamped materials to be null
and void. This act received the royal assent on the 2^
of March, 1765.
436. Reception of the stamp aci in AiJierica. When
the news of the stamp act reached the colonies, the
fwople every where manifested alarm, and a determina-
tion to oppose its execution. The assembly of Virginia
first declared its opposition to the act, by a number of
spirited resolves; out Massachusetts tgok the lead in
this important crisis, and maintained it in every stage of
(he suroequent revolution. In all the colonies, however>
the determined spirit of resistance prevented the execu-
tion of the act. The stamp-masters were burnt in
efSgy. ^d popular tumults succeeded. In Boston, the
frienas of the British measures, and the crown omceia
were insulted ; their houses demolished ; and amoi^
other damages, the populace destroyed a valuable col-
lection of original papers, concerning the history of the
colonies, which governor Hutchinson had made, and in-
tended to publish. This loss was irreparable. To ren-
der the opposition complete, the merchants associated,
and agreea to a resolution not to import any more good^
,y Google
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 199
from Great Britain, until the stamp law should be
repealed.
437. Principles on which the Parliament and the Co-
Honiea acted. The British parliament, previous to the
repeal of the stamp law, passed an act, declaring that
^'jthey had, and of right ought to have, power to bind
3the colonies in all cases whatsoever." They alleged
that the colonies were planted by their care, nourished
by their indulgence, and protected by their arms and
.their money ; and therefore the colonies owed allegi-
ance, subjection, and gpititude, to the parent state. The
colonies denied, very justly, that they were planted by
the British government, ^fot one of them was settled
at the expense of the crown ; but with a vast expense
of individuals, and with hardships and sufiferings be-
yond description or credibility. Nor did the govern-
ment of England expend any money, or furnish any
foree for protecting the colonies, fpr sixty years afler the
settlement of Plymouth. On the other nand, the go-
yemment neglected the colonies, while feeble and poor ;
and did not extend a protecting arm, until the colonies
had conquered and expelled several Indians tribes ; had
overcome the difficulties of settlement ; had acquired a
good degree of strength, and began to have a valuable
commerce. Then the government of England lent as-
sistance to defend the colonies, and secure to herself a
beneficial trade.
438. Opinions of British statesmen. When the act
for imposing stamp duties was under discussion in
parliament, Mr. Townsbend, a ministerialist demand-
ed whether the American children, planted oy British
care, nourished by their indulgence, and protected
by me arms of the mother countnr, would grudge
to contribute their mite to relieve that country from
its load of debt ? Col. Barre, a friend of the colonies,
replied : " Children planted by your care ?" No : your
oppression planted them in America. They fled from
your tyranny, into an uncultivated land, where they
were exposed to innumerable hardships, and the most
terrible cruelties of savages. Yet, actuated by true
principles of English liberty, they sustained their suf -
ly VJ»^7\^VI\^
200 HISTORY OP THE UNITED ^ATES.
ferings with patience, rejoicing to be free from the
tyranny of those who ougnt to have been their friends.
" They nourished by your indulgence !" No : they
grew by your neglect. When you oegan to care about
them, your care was exercised in sending persons to
rule over them, who were deputies of some deputy
sent to spy out their liberty, misrepresent their actions,
and prey upon their substance. *' They protected by
your arms !" They nobly took arms to defend your ter-
ritories; their valor on their frontiers, drenched m
blood, has yielded its savings to your emolument. I
know the people of America ; they are as loyal sub-
jects as any in the king's dominions ; but tney arc
jealous of their rights and liberties; and will vinaicate
them, if violated.
439. Grounds on which tJie Colonies opposed the
(Sftamp Act. The colonies always J^cknowledged them-
selves subjects of the crown of Great Britain, until the
declaration of independence; and were most loyal and
affectionate subjects, until the parliament asserted the
right of laying internal taxes on them, without admit-
ting them to a share of representation. The principle
asserted by the friends of liberty in parliament, that
"taxation and representation are inseparable," was
universally embraced and maintained in America; and
^the colonies denied the right of parliament to tax them
without their consent. In vain did the ministry al-
lege that a revenue raised in America would be ex-
pended in supporting government and defending the
colonies. The assemolies wished not to have the
taxes raised by Great Britain, nor to be at her disposal.
440. Congress at New York. To give system and
efficacy to the colonial opposition to the stamp act,
Massachusetts proposed a meeting of deputies fron^
the several colonies, to be held at New- York, in October,
1765. Accordingly deputies from nine of the colonies
assembled in congress at New- York, and after delibe^
ration, agreed on a declaration of their rights and
grievances ; asserted their exemption from taxes not
imposed by their own representatives ; and sent a pe^
tition to the king, with a memorial to both houses ol
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WAR OP THE REVOLUTION.* 201
parliament. This spirited opj)osition, seconded by the
enei^etic eloquence of Mr. Pitt, and other friends of
America, produced a repeal of the stamp law, on the
18th of March, 1766. The news of this event was re-
ceived in America with bonfires, ringing of bells, and
other unusu£il demonstrations oi joy.
441. Duties on Glass, Papery Paints, and Tea,
Not discouraged by the fate of the stamp act, the Bri-
tish ministry persisted in their design of raising a reve-
nue in America ; and in 1767, an act was passed, for
laying duties on glass, painters' colors, paper, and tea,
imported into the colonies. To render the act effect-
ual, a custom-house was directed to be established in
America, with a board of commissioners to superintend
the revenues, and to reside at Boston. These duties
were small, but the colonists objected to the principle,
rather than to the amount, of the tax ; and remonstra-
ted against the act. A second association was formed,
for suspending the importation and consumption of the
^ods on which duties were charged, and other Bri-
tish manufactures. These measures of Massachusetts
were adopted by the other colonies^ and a circular
letter from Boston had its influence m giving concert
and consistency to the opinions and proceedings of the
colonial assemblies. This opposition, supported by
petitions and remonstrances, in January, 177&, procured
an abolition of all the duties, except that of three-
pence on every pound of tea;
442. Causes y Smuggling, The enterprising com-
mercial spirit or the people in America bore, with ex-
treme impatience, the severe regulations imposed on
their trade, which prevented their seeking the best
markets, and poured all the profits of a thriving com-
merce into the bosom of the parent state. 8o unjust
and tyrannical were these restrictions considered, that
smuggling, goods to evade the duties, was deemed
honorable, and ^atly encouraged. In 1768, the re-
venue officers seized a sloop in Boston harbor, for at-
tempts to smuggle wine. The populace assembled
with a view to rescue the sloop, but she was moored
und^ the protection of a British ship of war. The
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
W8 HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
populace then attacked the houses of the commissioQ-
era. who saved themselves hy flight to the castle.
443. Firat armed force sent to support the Acts of
Parliament. The ministry, finding all mild efforts to
establish their authority, in regard to a revenue un-
availing, sent four regiments of troops to be stationed
iat Boston, to overawe the inhabitants, and assist the
jcrown officers to enforce the obnoxious acts of parlia-
ment. The arrival of these, in 1768, gave no small un-
easiness to the colonies, out no opposition was then
made. The ministrv also gave ordera to station armed
ships in the principal ports to prevent smuggling. An
armed schooner, called the Graspee, was stationed in
providence river, where she was burnt in 1772 by an
exasperated populace. A large reward was offered for
the discovery of the offenders, but no discovery was
made.
444. Further measures to enforce obedience. In
1769, the parliament passed an act to revive the provi-
sion of a statue enacted in the arbitrary reign of Henry
y III ; by which, persons charged with treason in any of
the colonies, might be arrested and sent to England for
trial. The gross injustice of this act augmented the
/clamor against the ministry in Great Britain, and served
only to exasperate still more Ute minds of the Ameri-
cans. This impolitic act alone would have raised a
rebellion in the colonies.. Indeed, the spirit of opposi-
tion increased, in proportion to the determination of the
British ministry to compel submission, and the differ-
ences became irreconcilable.
445. Massacre in 1770, To a free and high-spirited
pepple, the presence of an insolent military, could not
but be extremely irksome and provoking: and it was not
possible that harmony could long subsist between the
inhabitants of Boston, and the British troops. A slight
affray took place between them on the second of March,
1770; but on the night of the fifth, the enmity of the
parties burst forth in violence and blood. A Dodyof
troops being ordered to disperse a number of the citi-
zens of Boston, who were collected in Cornhill, the
populace pelted them with stones j upon which th«
Digitized- by VjOOQ IC
inTAtt OP THE REtOLUHoii. 20&
troops fired among them, killed three, and wounded five^^
two of whom died* With great difficulty the soldiera
were saved from the fury of the enraged populace. But
this outrage inflamed the animosity of the Americans
agjainst Great Britain, and hastened a most important
crisis. To commemorate this melancholy tragedy, an
anniversary oration was instituted in Boston, ano wai|
annually pronounced by some distinguished citizen on
the fifth of March, till the close of the revolution^ i . ^
446. Destruction of Tea at Bostom Although the
duties laid on commodities iinported into America had
been taken off, except the duty on teSi, yet the ministry
persisted in maintaining the right to raise a revenue in
th6 Colonies ; and to establish that principle, granted
Jjermission to the East India company to ship to Ame-
rica a large quantity of tea, charged with the duty.
This finesse of the ministry did not succeed. The Ame-
ricans, determined to resist the principle of taxation in
every shape, opposed the landing of the tea ; .in some
ports they obliged the consignees to resign their employ-
ment, and compelled the ships to return to England
without landing their cargoes. In Boston, the popu-
lace had less temper, and a party, disguised in the
dress of Indians, went on board the tea ships, and
threw the tea into the sea. This transaction, which
amounted to an open resistance of the government of
Great Britain, and led to more energetic measures, on
the part of that government, happened in the year 1773-.
447. Measwres of Parliament relating to Massachu-
setts. In pursuance of the ministerial plan of reducing
Massachusetts to obedience, an act of parliament was
passed for regulating the government oif that province ;
by which the powers of the people were abridged, and
the officers of government made dependant .on the
crown for their appointment and salaries. By another
act, persons indicted for murder or other capital offen-
ces might, if the governor should think an impartial
trial could not be had in the colony, be sent to Great
Britain to be tried. By another act, an attempt was
made to strengthen the interest and power of the crown
in America, by enlarging the province of Canada, and
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
904 BISTORT OF THB ONITBD 8TAt£a.
granting unusual privileges to the Catholics. All Irkieli
measures tended only to increase the jealousy of the
colonies, by developing the views of the ministry.
448. Boston Port Bill. In 1774, the parliament,
with a view to punish the refractory province of Mas-
sachusetts, and especially the inhabitants of Boston, as
also to brinff them to submission, passed an act to shut
the port of Boston, and to restrain all intercourse with
the town by water. The government and public offices
were removed to Salem, and it was exj^ctM by the
ministry that Salem would be pleased with the pros^
pect of enjoyinff the advantages of being the s^at' of
government and the centre of trade. But this misera-
le stratagem had no effect, but to irritate the inhabi-'
tants of Salem, who disdained to thrive on the ruins of
Boston. These proceedings, added to the detection of
some letters which had been written by the crown offi-
cers in Boston, advising to more decisive measures
against the colonies, raised a ferment in America, that
left little hopes of a reconciliation.
449. Committee of Correspondence, During the
transactions which have been related, some of the most
able and distinguished patriots in Massachusetts, who'
had long seen the necessity of a separation from Great
Britain, but who wished, if possible, to avoid an alter-
native that must involve the country in a sanguinary
contest, formed themselves into a committee of corres-
pondence, for the purpose of obtaining and diffusing
correct information, for uniting opinions and acting in
unison with their fellow patriots in other colonies.
This committee received advices regularly from their"
friends in Great Britain, which enabled them to be
prepared, and to' prepare ine public mind, for every exi-
gency. Similar committees were established in all the
other New England colonies, and became the ground"
work of their future union.
450. Arrival of General Gage^ and his reception.
In May, 1774, General Gage arrived in Boston, with
the commission of governor of Massachusetts, and com-
mander in chief ofthe British forces. At the moment
of his arrival, the people were in great agitation, at the
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAR OP TBE REVOLUTION. 205
Hews of the port bill ; notwithstanding which, the ge-
neral was received with respect, and treated with polite-
ness. Shortly after^ arrived two more regiments, with
artillery and military stores, indicative of the determi-
nation of the British government to reduce the colonies
to submission by the force of arms.
451. Conduct of the Colonies on this occasion. When
the Americans feaw, by the measures of the British
government, that reconciliation was no longer to be ex-
pected, and that their rights were to be defended by an
appeal to force, deploring the awful event, but confi-
dent of the justice of their cause, and the rectitude of
their purposes, they set apart a day of humiliation and
prayer, to invoke the Supreme Being, and manifest
their dependence on him for support in the arduous con-
test. And as the port bill had put an end to the trade
of Boston, and thus deprived the inhabitants of the
means of subsistence, the inhabitants of the colonies
opened the hand of charity, and sent liberal contribu-
tions to their relief. At the same time the committee
of correspondence framed an agreement, called a solemn
league and covenant, by which they determined to sus-
pend all intercourse with Great Britain, until their
chartered rights should be restored. In like manner,
agreements were formed in all parts of America, nei-
ther to import nor to consume British goods.
452. Proceeding's of General Gage, Soon after
General Gage arrived, he was addressed by certain gen-
tlemen of the council, but the address containing severe
reflections on his predecessor, he would not receive it.
Observing the tetnper of the people, he began to think
of measures of defense ; and directed Boston Neck to be
fortified. He also seized on the powder lodged in the
public stoie at Charrestown. He issued a proclamation,
to oppose the solemn league and covenant, pronouncing
it an unlawful and traitorous combination. But all this
served only to infianae and irritate the public mind, and
bring his authority into contempt.
463. Origin of Provincial Congresses, Greneral
Grage had summoned the assembly of Massachusetts to
convene at Salem I but on further inflection, had coun-
18
uigitizea by Google
906 HI8T0BT OF TBB tmitCO ^AtSS.
termanded the summons. The counter-order was
deemed illegal, and the members convened. The gov-
ernor not meetmg them, they organized themselves mto
a provincial congress, which formed a plan of defense ;
resolved to enroll a body of men, to be prepared for
idarching at a minute's notice, and therefore called
mintUe men; they appointed general officers, a com-
mittee pf safety, to act as a kind of executive council,
and took measures to collect supplies and military
stores, at Worcester and Concord. After an adjourn-
ment, for a short time, they again met, determined on
raising twelve thousand men;, sent agents to the neigh-
boring colonies, to request their co-operation, and com-
mittees of the New England colonies met and a^eed
on a plan of operations. At the same time, measures
were taken to combine all the colonies into a firm union,
and for this purpose, it was agreed that delegates from
the several colonies Should meet in a j^eneral congress.
454. Genei'ol Congress, On the fifth of September,
1774, delegates from twelve colonies convened in Phi-
ladelphia, to deliberate on the most important questions
that ever engaged the anxious solicituae of men. The
delegates were appointed by the colonial legislatures;
or where none existed, th^ appointments were made by
select meetings and associations of citizens. They
were men of the most distinguished character and ta-
lents, and enjoyed the public confidence. Before the
meetmg of the general congress, a convention of depu-
ties from the towns in Suffolk county, in Massachu-
setts, had declared that no obedience was due to the
late acts of the British parliament, but that those acts
ought to be rejected as the attempts of a wicked admi-
nistration to enslave America. This declaration was
approved by the general congress, which resolved, that
ii attempts should be made to carry into efl^ct die ob-
noxious acts of parliament, all America ought to unite
with Massachusetts in th^ opposition.
455. Proceedings of the first Congress. The great
council of America, solicitous to preserve peace with
the parent state, but determined to be free, adopted
measures which presented to the British ministry the
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAR OP TEt REVOLUllON. 207
olive branch with one hand and the sword with the
other ; submitting it to their choice to withdraw their
unconstitutional claims, or to meet the most determined
resistance. They addressed General Grage, stating the
grievances of Massachusetts, and their resolution to
support that province in her opposition ; entreating him
to forbear hostilities, and not preclude the hope of a re-
conciliation. They published a declaration of the
rights of the colonies, one of which was an exemption
from taxes imposed upon them by a legislature in which
they were not represented. They, however, consented
to submit to all the general regulations of commerce,
intended for the benefit of the whole British empire.
They declared several acts of parliament to be infringe-
ments of the rights of the colonies, and a repeal of them
necessary to a reconciliation. They entered into an
agreement to discontinue the importation of British
goods ; they sent a petition to the King, and addresses
to the British nation, to the Canadians, and to the
colonies.
456. Consequent proceedings of Parliament. When
the proceedings of the American congress were laid
before parliament, Lord Chatham introduced some con-
ciliatory propositions, but they were rejected by a large
ministerial majority ; and a joint address of both houses
lo the king, declared that rebellion actually existed in
the province of Massachusetts. The houses therefore
besought his majesty to take the most effectual mea-
sujre^ to enforce due obedience to the laws and autho-
rity of tlie supreme legislature ; and assured him that
they were determined to support him in maintaining
the just rights of the crown. From this moment, an
appeal to arms became unavoidable, and both parties
prepared for the conflict.
467. Condition of the parties at the beginning of the
War, When the Aipericans determined to oppose
their military strength to tTiat of Great Britain, the
disparity was such as might wfeU appal the bravest
lieart. Great Britain possessed immense wealth and
resources, her navy and merchantmen covered the
pc?,:jn, her armies were considerable for numbers ad^
uigitizea by Google
mOS BISTOBY OP THE ONXTfiO STATES.
discipline, her military and naval officers were of re-
nowned sidll and experience ; great was her powec, and
still greater the pride of her sovereignty. The colo-
nies, on the other hand, were destitute of all these ad-
vantages ; they had no general government vested with
powers to control the contending interests of thirteen
distinct jurisdictions ; the colonial governments were
mostly dissolved: No skilful officers, no disciplined
troops, no muskets proper for an army, no cannon nor
ammunition, no camp equipage, no armed ships;
nothing but consciousness of upright views, persuasion
of the justice of their cause, dauntless courage, and con-
fidence in the God of hosts, encouraged the Americans
to hazard the unequal contest.
458. Measures of Parliament preparatory to hostili-
ties. In the winter and spring of 1775, the ministry
headed by Lord North, procured an act of parliament to
prohibit the New England colonies from carrying on
the fisheries, and from trading with the British posses-
sions in Europe and the West Indies. These restraints
were, by a subsequent bill, extended to the other colo-
nies. These acts were accompanied with bills for an
augmentation of the sea and land forces. The armv
in Boston was increased to ten thousand men, which
number was deemed sufficient to reduce the rebellious
colonies to submission. At the same time Lord North
introduced a motion for adopting what he called a con-
ciliatory plan, but which in fact lield out a lure to tempt
the colonies to divide from each other, by exempting
from parliamentary duties and taxation, jsuch of them
as wonld contribute to the common defense, by raising
their proportion of money in their own way.
459. Colonial preparations for war, A British pro-
clamation, forbidding the exportation of arms and am-
munition to the colonies, was no sooner received, than
the most vigorous efforts were made in America to pro-
cure supplies. A high bounty on the materials and
manufacture of powder, caused mills for making it to
spring up in all parts of the country, as by enchant-
ment. Ships and money were dispatched secretly to
Europe to purchase and import arms and anununition.
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. S09
In some places, the cannon belonging to the crowi^
were seized. The militia was put under discipline;
associations ancj committees were every where formed
to cany into eflect the recoinmendations of con^ss;
and in the popular enthusiasm, their resolves and ad-
visory proposals had the effect of laws.
EJ
LTTLE AT LEXINGTON.
L ..^
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m^^
46Q. JiUckclf. on the militia ai Lexington. An at-
tempt of a p^rty of British troops to take some cannon
which were loclged at Salem, threatene.d to open the
awful scene of hostilities,*but the persuasion pf a worthy
clergyman induced the provincial troops to iM^thdraw
their opposition, at the drawbridge ii) the town; the
British troops marched over, and not finding the can-
non, which nad been previously removed, they marched
baqlf unmolested. But, in April, a body of troops was
ordered to march to Concord to destroy the military
stqras, which the Americans had collected at that place.
The march, though in the night, was discovered, and
early in the morning of the 19th of the month, about
seventy of the Lexington militia assembled on the green.
Major Pitcairn, who commanded the British troops,
rode up to the militia, and a^dre^.singthem by the name
18t ^
210 *^ HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
of rebels, ordered them to disperse. Not being obeyed
he discharged his pistol, and ordered the troops to fire
Eight men were killed and some others wounded. Thus
began the sanguinary contest which dismembered the
British empire, and ended in the establishment of the
independence of the colonies.
461. Return of the troops to Boston. Having dis
persed the militia at Lexington, the British troops pro
ceeded to Concord, destroyed some flour and other stores,
and returned to Boston. But the exasperated patriots
in the vicinity collected, and with such arms as they
hadj annoyed the troops on their march, by firing from
behmd fences and walls ; and it is doubtful whether the
detachment would not have been all killed or taken had
not a re-enforcement arrived and joined that body at
Lexington on its retreat. On ther part of the Ameri-
i^ns. fifty men were killed, and a number wounded.
Of the British forces sixty-five were killed, ^nd one
hundred and eighty-six wounded. ^
463. Measures taken by the Colonies ajlnrthe com"
^nens:emfl^of hostilities. The provincial congrees of
Massaoi^BHL Wkkih was in session at the time of the
affair at J^H^ton, pubishedA manifesto, addressed to
the peopiMH&eat Dlitain, dflllpating the Americans,
complainin|^ of the ravages of the Britipl troops, de-
claring theur loyalty to the crown, but protesting that
they would not submit to the tyranny or the ministry.
They declared Greneral Gage to be disqualified for go-
vernor of the province, and ^at he ougnt to he treated
as an enemy. They also passed votes ftr supplying
the arftly with pay and clothing. The general congress
met in May, 1775^ and resolv«i to raise an army, and
issue bills of credit to defray the expenses of the war.
They nomtook the appellation of the United Colonies,
and recommended a aay of humiliation to implore the
blessings of Heaven on tneir sovereign, the king of Great
Britain, and the interposition of divine aid to remove
their grievances, and restore harmony between the
parent state and the colonies,* on constitutional terms.
463. Intrenchment on Breed? s Hill. After the skir-
mish on the 19th of April, General Gage issued a pror
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WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 211
clamation declaring the Americans in rebeUion, and
denouncing against them the severest vengeance ; oflFer-
ing, however, to pardon all who should return to their
allegiance, except some of the principal fomenters of
opposition ; as 'if he expected the Americans would
abandon their leaders to the gallows. In the mean
time, a considerable army was collected in the towns
near ♦Boston, and it was determined to annoy, and. if
possible, dislodge the British forces in Boston. For tnis
purpose, a detachinent was ordered, on the night of the
16th of June, IT75, to throw up a breast work on Bun-
ker's hill, near Charlestown. By some mistake the
troops intrenched on Breed's hill, nearer to Boston;
and so silent and active were they, that by the return
of light, they had nearly completed a strong redoubt,
without being discovered by the enemy.
464. Battle on Breed's HiU, No sooner had the dawn
of the morning enabled the enemylto discover the ad-
vance of the Americans, than a severe cannonade from
the ships 1h the river, announced the determination of
the British commander to oppose the progress of the
works. Bat this not interrupting the Ame^cans, a body
of about three thousand men, tinder General Howe,
landed under protection of the shippiDg, and advancea
to attack th^wOTks. The Americans permitted the
enemy to approach within ten or twelve rods, and then
discharged such a shower of musket shot as to throw
the troops into disorder, and oblige them to fall back.
Being rallied, and advancing a second time^ a second
fire did such execution, as to compel the British troops
to retreat. Terrible was the carnage, and so disheart-
ened were the enemy, that the officers found it difficult
to rally thfe troops. At lengUi they were Wought to
t^harge the intrenchments witU^fixed bayonets, and the
Americans, who had no bayonets, were forced to aban-
don the works.
465. Burning of Charlestown, and event of the ac-
tion: When the British troops first landed, orders had
been given to set fire to Charlestown, with a view to
cover their approach ; and almost the whole town, con-
sisting of four hundred houses, was laid in ashes. This
,y Google
$13 HISTORY OP TBE UNITED STATES.
barbarous deed proved of no use to the enepfiy, but s^p^fd
to exasperate the Americans. After a heroic defense
of the hill, the American troops, destitute of bayonets
and of ammunition, and overpowered by numbers, re-
treated over Charlestown Neck, exposed to a raking fixe
from the Glasgow ship of war, and two floating batte-
ries, from which however they suffered no great annoy-
ance. Severe was the loss of British officers and sol-
diers in this action, amounting to more than a thousand
men. The loss on the part of the Americans was less
considerable; not amounting to a hundred killed, and
iUiee hundred wounded and missing. Among the killed
however, was Greneral Warren, a brave officer and firm
patriot.
466. Surprise of Ticonderogc^ and Crown -Point.
Thd importance of securing; the passes into Canada,
had occurred to some pers^ons soon after the action at
Lexington. To e^ect this, different parties of men were
dispatched to gain possession of the princiyid forts oq
the lakes. So secret was the expedition under Col.
Allen and Col. Arnold, that they surprised and took\
the commander of Ticonderoga in his bed. Col. War-
ner, with . a company took Crown Point, and in these
tWQ iqcts, the Americans found canno^^and military
stores, which were greatlv wanted. In the mean time,
the British ministry employed means to enlist a body
pf Canadians into their service, and sent twenty thou-
sand stands of arms \o Governor Carlton at Giuenec,for
tbe use of the troops. But the inhabitants declined
faking any part in the contest. An inhuman attempt
of the Qiinistry to engage the savages to fall on tne
ffqntiers, and annoy the colonies, proved- equally un-
successful.
467. Proceedings of Cqngffs^^ in 1775. In May,
1775, the congress met at Philadelphia, agreeable .to
a4joui:np»ent, and delegates from Georgia completed
th^ representation of the colonies. One of their acts
was a manifesto, justifying the necessity of taking arms
in defense of the colonial rights, w)iiph was written in
^masterly style, and calculated to n^afce a deep impre*-
f !v? ?^ ;"® ^^^^^ 0^ ^Mr con^tit^ciitf. They se^t^^^-i
uigitizeaoy Google
WAR OF THE RBVOLCTION. 218
Other petitioD to the king, but it was treated with con-
tempt. They directed an emission of bills of credit,
not to exceed two millions of dollars, and the faith of
the union was pledged for their redemption. They
established a post office, under the direction of Doctor
Franklin. Tney directed twelve companies of riflemen
to be enlisted, mstituted a general hospital, and ap-
pointed genend officers.
468. Appointment of a Commander in Chief. It
was a point of immense importance, to select, for the
supreme command of the American army, a person of
militarv talents adequate to the task, and of qualities
adaptea to conciliate the afiections and confidence of
men of different habits and education, and not free from
strong local prejudices. Fortunately such a character
was found and selected. George W ashingtoNj a dele-
gate from Virginia, was appointed commander m chief
of the American army, on the 15th of June, 1T75.
This gentleman had been employed as an officer in the
war with France, and had displayed eminent bravery
and talents. To his experience m militarv afiairs, hie
united sound judgment, extensive knowledge of men,
perfect probity, pure morals, a grave deportment, inde-
fatigable industry, easy manners, strict politeness, a
commanding person, cool bravery, unshaKen fortitude,
and a prudence that baffled and confounded his enemies.
469. Taking of St. Johns. In pursuance of the
plan of guarding the frontiers by taking Canada, or
crippling the British power in that province, Generals
Schuyler and Montgomery were sent with a body of
troops to attack the forts on the borders of Canada. But
General Schuyler returning to hold a treaty with the
Indians, the command was left with General Montgo-
mery. A small fort at Chamblee was first taken, where
a supply of powder was obtained, and siege was laid to
St. Johns. Some attempts were made by Governor
Carlton to relieve the garrison, but in vam; and the
garrison, amounting to seven hundred men, surrendered
on the third of November, 1775. This was succeeded
by the surrender of Montreal, The only misfortune
that attended these enterprises, was the loss of Col*
,y Google
S14 HI8T0RT Or^^HE DKITED STATES.
Allen, who. engaging in a rash attempt on Montreal,
with a small party, was made prisoner, and sent in irons
to England.
470. Attack on Qtiebec, and defeat of the Americans.
Col. Arnold had been sent from the army at Cambridge,
with eleven hundred men, to penetrate to Q,uebec by
the river Kennebec and the wilderness. After a most
difficult march, in which fatigue and famine reduced
his men to about four hundred, the remainder being
obliged to return, he joined General Montgomery be-
fore €tuebec, in November. Preparations were made
to besiege the city, and some batteries opened, but the
meta] was not heavy enough to make an impression.
General Montgomery therefore determined upon an es-
calade. The army, smnll in number, and exposed to
xnqst inclement weather, made the attack on the last
day of the year 17^5, in four divisions ; two of which
attacks were feints to deceive the garrison. Greneral
Montgomery entered the -first barrier, but in attempting
the second was killed, with most of his attending offi-
cers. The division commanded by Col. Arnold took a
two gun battery, but the commander was wounded and
compelled to leave the field. His men fought like he-
roes for three hours, bu^ being surrounded, and seeing
no hope of relief, they surrendered prisoners of war.
471. Tfie burning of Norfolk. At the commence-
ment of the troubles in America, violent "altercations
between Lord Dunmore, governor of Vii^inia, and the
assembly, had induced the governor to dissolve the l^
gislature, and to refuse calling another. A convention
was therefore assembled in March, 1775. consisting qf
two delegates from a county, who exercised the pow-
ers of government. On which Lord I)unmore seized
and conveyed on board of a ship, the powder in the
magazine at Williamsburg. The people assembled in
arms, and demanded the powder, or its value, which
the governor promised, and an apparent reconciliation
took place. But the governor, alarmed by popular meet-
ings, sent his family on board of a ship of war, and
issued a proclamation, charging the magistrates of Vir-
ginia with treason and rebellion. In June, the gov^f^
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
THE ^aA op the%kvolutx6n. 815
nor sammoned the assembly, and attempted to persuade
them to accept of Lord Nortn's conciliatory propositions :
but finding them inflexible, he withdrew on board of
the ship. Many irritations on the part of the country
people and the governor's adherentsj at length produced
hostilities, and by order of Lord Dunmore, the flourish-,
ing town of Norfolk was laid in ashes, on the first of
January, 1776.
472. Dissolution of the Colonial Government. 'Dyt-
ring the year 1775, the old governments of the colonies
were all dissolved. The royal governors, and all the
crown oflficers, adhering to thie 6nti^h measures, became
odious to the people ; and when the popular ferment
became violent^ they were Obliged to leave the country,
or suspend their functions. Frotti that time, teiftpo-
rary conventions were held for the purposfe of adminfs-;
tenng the laws and making regulations to meet tfie
public occasions. Many adnerents to Great Britain,
however, remained in the country ; some of them men
of principle, were quiet citizens ; others took part with
thp British troops, and by secret machinations or open
hostility, aided and directed their operations. In some
of the colonies, the Britisli adherents W6re numerous
and powerful ; and contfibuted to weaken the opposi-
tion to the British afins.
473. Military operations in and near Boston, Ge-
neral Washington, soon after his appointment, repaired
to the army, accompanied with General Lee, and esta-
blished his quarters at Cambridge. On his journey,
and at camp, he was received and welcomed with the
most profound respect ; and his presence inspired a de-
gree of confidence whiCh was an aujpicious presage of
his future influence. The arniv investing Boston,
amounted to about fifteen thousand men ; but was deS-J
titute of good arms, ammunition, clothing, and expe-
rienced officers. The first, and a most difficult task,
was, to organize and discipline the troops. All the
powder in the army amounted only to nine rounds to
a soldier; and to deceive the country with hopes,
and the British general with fears, casks of saiid were
transported to the camp, under the name of powder. A
,y Google
216 mSTORY OF f BE UNITED STATES.
small supply from New Jersey, and the cargo of a brig,
the first prize taken by Captain Manly, afTwded a tern-
porary and almost miraculous relief.
474. Destruction of Falmouth. The inhabitants of
Falmouth, a thriving town in Maine, in compliance
with the resolves of the provincial congress, to prevent
the royalists from removing their effects, obstructed
the loading of a mast ship, which drew upon them the
vengeance of the British smmiral. An order was given
to bum the town, which^ after a short notice to the in-
habitants, to remove their effects was, barbarously exe-
cuted ; and most of the town was leveled with the dust,
on the 18th of October, 1T75. Such indignities and in-
human modes of warfare added fuel to the popular
flame of opposition, and rendered it inextinguishable.
In November following, the government of Massachu-
setts authorized letters of maraue and reprisal, and insti-
tuted courts of admiralty for the trial and condemnation
of prizes. Immediately the sea swarmed with Ameri-
can privateers^ which captured vast numbers of valua-
ble British ships, and supplied the Americans with all
kinds ofgoods and military stores.
475. JEvacuation of Boston, The want of powder,
and the necessity of re-enlistino; the troops, whose time
of ;Mrvice had expired, rendered the army at Cambridge
inactive, during the summer and autumn of 1775. It
was however the intention of General Washington to
avail himself of a bridge of ice over Charles river in
the following winter, to march his troops into Boston,
and dislodge the enemy i But a council of war advised
"^ot to m&e the attempt. The mode of attack was
therefore varied. For tne purpose of diverting the at-
tention of the enemy, a severe cannonade upon the
tovTn was commenced, on the 2d of March ; and on the
night of the 4th, a battery was erected on a hill at
Dorchester Point, which was near enough to annoy the
British troops in Boston. The British commander pre-
pared to attack the works, but a storm prevented, until
Jhe works were deemed so strong as to render it inex-
pedient. The only alternative then was, to quit the town,
which was done with great' alacrity; and on the 17th
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAR OP TBB ReVOLUnONi 217
March, 1776, General Washington marched into Bos-
ton, to the unspeakable joy of its oppressed inhabitants.
476. Proceedings of Parliament in tM spring of
1776. The news of the affair at Breed's Hill, deter-
mined the miaistry to employ a powerful force to re-
duce the colonies in 1776. For this purpose^ they olP
tained an act of parliament, to justify them m taking
into pay and intrcwducing into the British dominions six-
teen thousand German troops, which, with the British
regiments, constituted a force destined for America, of
about fifty thousand men. At the same session, an act
passed to prohibit all trade and intercourse between
Great Britam and the colonies. This law was violently
opposed by the English merchants, but without effect.
One clause of the act authorized the seizure and con*
demnation of all Anierican property on the high seas,
and what was beyond example inhuman, the bill au-
thorized British subjects to compel men. taken on board
of American vessels, to fight against tiieir own coua*
trymen.
477. Steps preparatory to Independence. In th«
winter of 1775-«, few men in America had ever thought
of a final separation of the colonies from the dominion
of Great Britain. The great body of the people would
have been startled at the proposal. Certain leading
men probably had long foreseen and Contemplated thd
event : but some previous steps were necessary to pre-
pare the public mind for a measure involving in its
consequences the fate of millions. At this time, Tho-
mas Paine, an Englishman of low birth, who possessed
a popular talent at writing, and no small share of so-
phistry, and who before he debased himself by infidelity
and licentious principles Was much respected, ushered
into the world a number of papers, signed Common
Sense, to prove the necessity and expediency of a de-'
claration of independence. He was doubtless impelled
to this, and supported by eminent characters. The con-
tinent was electrified by his writings ; the minds of
people were prepared for the great event.
478. Declaration of Independence, The news of
the acts of parliament, by which war was declared
10
Digitized by VjOOQL^
£18 HISTORY OP THE UMIT£D ffTATES.
against the colonies^ and the inhabitants ifiui out of the
protection of the British government, afforded a favor-
able opportunity to take the decisive step of severing
the bands of connection between the parent state and
the colonies. The motion for this purpose was made
in congress by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and
after fiHl discussion, the question was carried by a great
majority. On the memorable 4th of July 1776, the con-
gress, after enumerating the causes which impelled the
colonies to the measure, made and published a manifes-
to, or solemn declaration, by whicn they asserted that
" These United Colonies are, and of rignt ought to be,
Free and Independent States," appealing to the Su-
preme Judge of the world for the rectitude of their in-
tentions, and pledging to each other for the support of
independence, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor.
479. Atta4:k of SvUivafCs Island, Early in 1776, a
squadron of British ships, under Admiral Parker, with a
body of land forces on board, appeared before Charles-
ton, in South Carolina, with a view to take possession
and make an impression on the southern states. An at-
tempt had been made in winter, by a party of British
troops and royalists, to penetrate mto North Carolina,
but It was repelled with bravery by the militia. In June
the British snips were brought to bear upon Sullivan's
island, which commands the passage to Charleston, and
the attack commenced. But the fire was returned with
great effect from the fort, which was commanded by
colonel Moultrie. The ships were shattered and obliged
to abandon the attack, with a heavy loss of men. The
squadron soon departed for New York.
480. Retreat from Canada, After the defeat at Q,ue-
bec, the Americans continued the siege through the win-
ter ; but the small-pox broke out among them, and weak-
ened their exertions. Early in spring, Greneral Carle-
ton received large re-enforcements, and the Americans
were obliged to retreat. Greneral Thompson attacked a
body of troops at the Three Rivers, but was defeated
and taken prisoner. After which, the troops demolish-
ed the forts at Chamblee and St. Johns, and proceeded
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAB OP THE HEVOLUTIOnT 219
to Crown Point. The British forces in Canada amount-
ed to thirteen thousand men, but not having boats or
shipping, they were unable to cross the lake, and their
operations were suspended till autumn. During the
summer^ the Americans were re-enforced, to the num-
ber of fourteen thousand men, who were employed in
strengthening the works at Ticonderoga, and raising
forti&ations on a hill on the opposite side of the lake,
which tKey called mount Indenendence. But in autumn,
one half the army was disabled by a violent ague and
fever, and a malignant dysentery. In October, the aimed
vessels of the parties came to action, and the Americans
were defeated; but it being late, the British troops retir-
ed into Canada for the winter.
481. Operations at New York. As soon as Boston
was evacuated, General Lee had been sent to New-
York to prepare to repel the British forces, which Gen-
eral Washington supposed, would be directed to occu-
py that important and central position. The main ar-
my followed, and took up their quarters on York Island.
In June, the British fleet arriv^ at the Hook, a point
of land at the entrance of the bay or harbour, having on
board thirty-five thousand troops, a body of cavalry, and
military apparatus of every kind. General Washing-
ton could oppose to this force not more than seventeen
thousand men, most of them without experience or dis-
cipline, and weakened by a malignant dysentery. In
this situation, a line of fortifications was erected on
Long Island, and such other preparations made to resist
the enemy, as exigences would permit. Before the com-
mencement of hostilities, Lord Howe, the British admi-
ral, sent a letter to General Washington, to offer terms
of accommodation; but the letter being addressed to
George Washington, Esq., the commander, with be-
coming dignity, declined receiving it, or any writing,
unless directed to him in his true character.
482. TVie Adjutant GeneraPs Int^view, and the ac-
tion on Long island. General Howe, the command-
er of the land forces, notwithstanding the fate of his
brother's letter, sent his Adjutant General Patterson
with a letter directed to George Washington, &c. &c.
uigitizea by Google
230 BIBTORY or THB UNITED STATES.
dtc This indignity was also rn>elled. After sojne
conversation, in which Greneral Washing[ton observed.
;hat the proposed conditions of reconciliation amounted
to little more than an offer oC pardon, and as the Ameri-
cans had committed no offence, they wanted no pardon,
the adjutant general departea. and both parties pre-
pared for action. On the 22a of August, the British
Iroops landed on the southwest side of Long Island,
near Utrecht, and. the party gained the rear of the
American forces. On tne 37th of the month, the at-
tack commenced ; but the Americans being surrounded,
and expK)sed to the fire of the Hessians in front, and of
the Pritish regulars in rear, were totally defeated.
Some regiments forced their way through the enemy,
with great loss ; but a large part fell in action, or be-
came prisoners. The Americans stated their loss at
twelve hundred ; the British stated it at three thousand.
General Sullivan and Lord Sterling fell into the hands
of the enemy, whose loss was not more than three or
four hundred.
483. Retreat from Long Island. After this severe
defeat. General Washington, with the advice of a coun-
cil of war. ordered a retreat from Long Island. On the
night of tne 29th, this was effected with a success that
was deemed a merciful interposition of Heaven. Within
a single night, an army of nine thousand men, with
their artillery, tents, and baggage, was transported to
New- York over a diflScult ferry of a mile in breadth,
while the British army was encamped within six hun-
dred yards, and did not discover the retreat, till too late
to annoy tne Americans. Soon after this event. Cap-
tain Nathan Hale of Connecticut, belonging to Colonel
Knowlton's regiment, was employed as a spy to gain
information of the enemy's situation find designs. He
had entered and examined their camp, but on his return,
was taken, and the evidence of his employment being
clear, he was executed. Thus a brave oflScer and wor-
thy citizen fell a victim to his ardent patriotism, la-
menting that he had but one life to lose lor his country.
484. Consequences oj the Defeat' on Long Island.
Lord Howe, under an impression i\[?X the defeat on
,y Google
WAR OP THB R£VOLtmOlt. XSCl
Long Island would induce congress to comply with
his terms, dismissed General Sullivan on his parole,
with a message to Congress, requesting a conference
with some of their members. Accordingly three gen-
tlemen were appointed, who repaired to Staten Island.
But as the committee declined treating in any other
character than that of the representatives of independent
states^ and Lord Howe could not receive tliem in that
capacity, the interview closed with mere compliments.
The enemy then passed up the East River, and landed
a partv at Turtle Bay, killed Colonel Knowlton, and dis-
persea his troops. A larger party proceeded and landed
at Frog's Neck ; and a consideraole action took place at
White Plains. In danger of being surrounded. Creneral
Washington was compelled to abandon York Island,
leaving a garrison in Fort Washington ; but this was as-
saulted and taken soon after, with the loss of more than
two thousand prisoners. Fort Lee. on the west side of
the Hudson, was abandoned, and tne enemy remained
masters of York Island, Long Island, and Staten Island.
Soon after General Howe took possession of New-
York, the city was set on fire, by what means is not
known, and that part of it west oi Broadway, was re-
duced to ashes.
485. Reireat of General Washington, and his vic-
tory at Trenton. The American army oeing greatly
reduced by the loss of men taken prisoners, and by
the departure of men whose enlistments had expired.
General Washington was obliged to retreat towards
Philadelphia; Greneral Howe, exulting in hie suc-
cesses, pursued him, notwithstanding the weather was
severely cold. To add to the disasters of the Ame-
ricans, General Lee was surprised and taken prisoner
at Baskenridge. In this gloomy state of affairs,
many persons joined the British cause and took pro-
tections. But a small band of heroes checked the tide
of British success. A division of Hessians had advan-
ced to Trenton, where they reposed in security. Gen-
eral Washington was on the opposite side of the Dela-
ware, with about three thousand men, many of whom
weie without shoes or convenient clothing; and the
10*
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99$ ^STORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
rlrer was covered with floating ice. But the General
Imew the importance of striking some successful hlow,
to animate the expiring hopes of the country ; and on
fhe night of December 25th, crossed the river, fell on
the enemy by surprise, and took the whole body, con-
aisting of about nine hundred men. A few were tilled,
among whom was Colonel Rahl, the commander.
486. Victory at Pnnceton. On the 2d of January
1777, Lord Cornwallis appeared near Trenton, with a
stronff body of troops. Skirmishing took place, and im-
nededthe march of the Biiiish army, until the Ameri-
cans had secured their artillery and baggage ; when
they retired to the southward of the creek, and repulsed
the enemy in their attempt to pass the bridge. As Gren-
eral Wasnington's force was not sufficient to meet the
enemy, and his situation was critical, he determined,
with the advice of a council of war, to attempt a strat-
agem. He gave orders fur the troops to light flres in
Ihsif camp, [which were intended to deceive the ene-
my,] and be prepared to march. Accordingly at twelve
o'clock at night the troops left the ground, and by a
pircuitous march, eluded the vigilance of the enemy, and
f arly in the morning appeared at Princeton. A smart
action ensue4, but the British troops gave way. A party
took refuge in the college, a building with strong stone
walls, but were forced to surrender* The enemy lost
in kUled, wounded, and prisoners, about five hundred
men. The Americans lost but few men; but among
them was a most valuable officer, General Mercer.
487. Close oj the Campaign of 1776. The bold and
(lecisiy^ measures of the American general surprised
and confounded his enemies. The British were can-
toned for the winter at Brunswick and Amboy, where
they were watched by the American army and the active
militia pf New Jersey, The troops in the American
aervioe. however, were few in number, not more than
fifteen hundred, who kept in check a formidable British
army, during the winter. General Washinf^n, whose
powers had before been linaited, was invested, in this
priti^ juncture, with supreme and unlimited command,
TfWft he exerci^d for the public safety, Congreti
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WAB OP THE REVOLUnO!!. 2251
also made ^eat exertions to rouse the spirits of the peo-
ple by a bold aad energetic address ; and they adopted
measures for raising an army for three years, or dur-
ing the war ; offering large bounties and encourage-
ments. They formed a confederation, to be adopted oy
the states as a bond of union, and recommended to the
several states to form constitutions for their own go-
vernment, which was accordingly done in this and the
following year. They also sent agents to Europe to
solicit the friendship and aid of foreign powers.
488. Opening <jf the Campaign of 1777. In March
1777, a detachment of British troops destroyed the
€tores and forage belonging to the United States at
Peekskill, In April, General Tryon, with three t*hou-
sand men, landed in Connecticut, between Fairfiel4
and Norwalk, advanced to Danhury, burnt the conti-
nental stores, which were valuable, and most of the
town, and retreated to the shipping. On their return,
Grenerals Wooster, Arnold, and Silliman, with such '
of the militia as could be nastily collected, harassed
them, and killed a considerable number. The Ame-
ricans lost a number of men, and that veteran and de-
serving officer, Greneral Wooster. In May, Colonel
Meigs, a brave and enterprising officer, with 170 men,
passed over to Long Island, destroyed the shipping and
stores collected for the British at Sag Harbor, and took
ninety prisoners, without the loss of a man. In July,
Colonel Barton of Rhode Island, with a few volun-
teers, crossed the Narragan^gt at night, surprised and
look prisoner General Prescot.
489. Retreat of the Americans from THconderogu*
In June, 1777, the British army, amounting to seven
thousand men, besides Indians and Canadians, com-
manded by General Burgoyne, crossed the lake, and
laid siege to Ticonderoga. In a short time the enemy
gained possession of Sugar Hill, which commanded
the American lines, and General St. Clair, with the
advice of aVDuncil of war, ordered the posts to be aban-
doned. The retreat of the Americans was conducted
under every possible disadvantage ; part of their force
^mb^ked in oateaus and (anded at Skenesbqrough, a
uigitizea by Google
fXH
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
part marched by the way of Castleton ; but they were
obliged to leave their heavy cannon, and on their march
lost a great part of their baggage and stores, while their
rear was harassed by the British troops. An action
took place between Colonel Warner, with a body of
Americans and General Frazer, in which the Ameri-
cans were defeated, after a brave resistance, with the
loss of a valuable officer, Colonel Francis.
BATTLE OP BENNINGTON.
490. Battle of Bennington. The Americans had
collected a quantity of stores at Bennington ; to destroy
which, as well as to animate the royalists and intimi-
date the patriots. General Burgoyne detached Colonel
Baum, with five nundred men, and one hundred Indians.
Colonel Breyman was sent to re-en 'brce him, but did
not arrive in time. On the 16th of August, General
Stark, with about eight hundred brave militia men, at-
tacked Colonel Baum, in his intrenched camp, about six
miles from Bennington, and killed or iogk prisoners
nearly the whole detachment. The nexniay Colonel
Breyman w&s attacked and defeated. In these actions,
the Americans took about seven hundred prisoners, ana
these successes served to revive the spirits of the people.
uigitizea by Google
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 225
This success, however, was in part counterbalanced
by the advantages gained on the Mohawk by Colonel
St. Leger; but this officer attacking Fort Stanwix, was
repelled, and obliged to abandon the attempt.
491. Defeat of General Burgoyne, General Bur-7
goyne, after collecting his forces and stores, crossed the
Hudson with a view to penetrate to Albany. But the
American army being re-enforced daily, held him in
check at Saratoga. General Gates now took the com-
mand, and was aided by the Generals Lincoln and Ar^
nold. On the 19th of September, the Americans at-
tacked the British army, and with such bravery, that
the enemy could boast of no advantage, and night put
an end to the action. The loss of the enemy was about
five hundred. General Burgoyne was confined in a
narrow pass ; having the Hudson on one side and im-
passable woods on the other; a body of Americans was
in his rear; his boats he had ordered to be burnt, and
he could not retreat ; while an army of thirteen thou-
sand men opposed him in front. On the'7th of Octo-
ber, ^Jie armies came to a second action, in which the
British lost General Frazer, with a great number of of-
ficers and men, and were driven within their lines. On
the part of the Americans the loss was not great, but
Generals Lincoln and Arnold were wounded.
492. Surrender of the British army. It was the plan
of the British generals, to push a body of troops from
New York to join Gen. Burgoyne at Albany, and by es-
tablishing a line of British posts on the Hudson, to in-
tercept the intercourse between the New England and
southern states. While General Burgoyne was attempt^
in J to advance towards Albany, General Clinton, with
a force of three thousand men, took possession or Fort
Montgomery, after severe loss. General Vaughan, with
a body of troops, on board of armed ships, sailed up the
Hudson, as far as Livingston's manor, where he landed
a party, burnt a large fiouse belonging to one of the fh-
mily ; the^ent a party to the opposite shore, and laid
in ashes thetown or Kingston. But Greneral Burgoyne
despairing of the junction between his army and the
division from New York, surrounded by a superior
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226 BISTORT OF THE ONITED STATfid.
army, and unable to retreat, consented to capitulate, and
on the 17th of October, surrendered to the American
general. The detachment under General Vaughan
returned to New York, and the plan of the British com-
manders was totally frustrated.
493. Oj>er(itimi8ofthe main Army. General Wash-
ington's force had been au^ented, during the winter
and spring, so as to render it difficult or impossible for
G^eneral Howe to pursue his plan of penetrating to Phi-
ladelphia. The British general therefore altered his
plan, and embarking on board of his ships, entered the
Chesapeake, and landed at the head of the Elk. On the
11th of September, an action was fought at Brandy-
wine Cree^ in which the American forces, after a brave
resistance, were obliged to yield to superior numbers
and discipline, with the loss of about twelve hundred
men. Tne British loss was estimated at about half
that number. General Washington retreated and en-
camped about eighteen miles from Philadelphia ; while
Greneral Howe took possession of that city.
494. Battle of Germantown. After having taken
possession of Philadelphia, it became necessary for Gre-
neral Howe to take the forts in the Delaware, to open
the communication with the Atlantic. The Americans
had constructed a fort on Mud Island, and a redout on
the opposite Jersey shore ; and had obstructed the chan-
nel ol the river. In attempting to take these forts,
Count Donop, and three or four hundred mem were
killed, but the forts were finally taken. While this de-
tachment was'absent, General Washington attacked the
British army, and at first obtained success. But a fog
in the morilinff occasioned many mistakes, and after a
severe battle, the Americans retreated, but without the
loss of their cannon. Their loss was about one thou-
sand in killed and wounded. Amon^ the slain was
General Nash, and his aid, Major Wilherspoon. The
British lost upwards of five hundred men, with Gteneral
Agnew and Colonel Bird. After these opillitions, the
armies went into winter quarters. The Congress re-
tired to Yorktown in Virginia.
495. Proceeding's i?it?ie British Parliament. When
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WAB OF THE REVOLUTION* 827
the news of the lossof Greneral Burgoyne's army reach-
ed England, the ministry began to speak of Americat
with more moderation, while the opposition party were
violent in their censures of administration. The war
had then cost the nation about twenty thousand men,
and thirty millions of money. In this state of affairs,
the ministry had recourse to private subscriptions to
raise additional troops. In February, 1778, Lord North
laid before the house of commons two bills for conci-
liating the colonies, one to declare the intention of par-
liament concerning the right of taxing the colonies, the
other for enabling the king to appoint commissioners,
with fullpowers, to treat with the American Congress,
Greneral W ashington, or the assemblies of the colonies,
respecting an accommodation of differences. These
bills, after debate, were carried, and commissioners ap-
pointed. One event which hastened these propositions,
was, the alliance between France and America, of
which the ministry had obtained some intelligence.
496.^ Treaties with Prance, In 1776, Congress had
sent Silas Deane an agent to France, to solicit the friend-
ship of that rival of Great Britain, and to procure arms
and military stores. But the French court wottid give
no open coupitenance to the agent, although it was evi-
dent that they secretly wished success to the Ameri-
cans, because the dismemberment of the British empire
would greatly weaken a powerful rival. Mr. Deane
however obtained some ammunition, clothing, and a par-
cel of old .muskets of little use. The French court
would listen to no propositions of alliance, until they
had news of the surrender of Burgoyiie. That event
decided the negotiation, and on the 6th of February,
1778, a treaty of alliance and a treaty of amity and com-
merce were signed at Paris by the If rench ministry,
and the American commissioners, Doctor Franklin, Mr.
Deane, and Mr. Lee.
497. IVansactions of the British Commissioners.
The news of the alliance with France was received in
America with great joy. The prospect of a powerful
ally infused new life into the Americans, and new vigor
into their councils. In this state of the public mind,
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
228 HiaroBT of tbe united liTAiti.
the British commissioners arrired in June, with terms
of reconciliation, which, a few years earlier, might
have effected the object. But the Congress had pro-
ceeded too far to recede, and all conditions of reconci-
liation, implying^ a subiectioA to the British crown, and
short of an explicit acknowledgment of the independ-
ence of the United States, were rejected. Among other
means of recalling the Americans back to a dependence
on Great Britain, a large bribe was offered to ah influen-
tial gentleman, but it was rejected with disdain. This
negotiation occasioned many publications of manifestos,
and appeals to the people, but \irithout any sensible ef-
fect on the public mind.
498. March of the enemy through New- Jersey. At
the opening of the campaign in 1778, General Howe
went to England, and left the command to Sir Henry
Clinton. In June the British army left Philadelphia,
and marched tot^ards Staten Island. In their march
they were annoyed by the Americans, and on the 28th
of June a division of the army under General Lee was
ordered, if possible, to bring thetn to an engagement.
The order was not obeyed ; Greneral Washington ar-
rived, and riding up to General Lee, addressed him in
terms that implied censure. Greneral Lee answered with
warmth and disrespectful language. General Wash-
ington led the troops in person^ and a smart action took
place, in which botn parties claimed th^ victory, but the
advantage was clearly on the side of the Americans.
The loss in killed and wounded amounted to three or
four hundred, on each side : but the British left the
field of battle in the n^ht, and pursued their i;etreat.
This battle happened at Freehold, m Monmouth county,
during a period of extreme heat, the mercury beii^
above ninety degrees by Fahrenheit's scale. Many of
the soldiers died on the spot by heat, fatigue, or driniing
cold water. General Lee was tried by a court martial
for disobedience, and his command suspended for one
year.
499. Arrival of a French Fleet, A fleet from Tou-
lon, of twelve ships of the line and four frigates, under
the command of the Count d'Estaing, amved at the
uigitizea by Google
WAR OP THE REVOLUnON* S2D
entrance of the Delaware in July, but it was too late to
intercept Lord Howe's fleet, whicn had arrived at Sandy
Hooki The count sailed and lay off the Hook some
days but considering it as unsafe to attack the British
ships, in the harbor, he departed for Rhode Island. A
plan was concerted to attack General Pigot and the
British troops at Newport by sea and land ; and Greneral
Sullivan was detached with a considerable force to as-
sist in the design. A landing in Rhode Island was
effected by General Sullivan ; but Lord Howe with the
English fleet appearing off Newport, Count d'Estaing,
left the siege and sailed to tight him. A violent tempest
prevented an action, and disabled the fleets, so that the
count was obliged to put into Boston to refit. In con-
sequence of this disaster. General Sullivan raised the
siege of Newport. A smart action took place on his
retreat, in which two or three hundred men were slain.
500. Various expeditions in 1778. The British
armyj after arriving at New York from Philadelphia^
remained inactive during the summer, and the Ameri-
cans encamped at White Plains. But in September,
General Clinton dispatched General Orey with a body
of troops to destroy the shipping at New Bedford, which
was a port much frequented by privateers. In this
excursion, a large number of ships with stores, and a
number of houses, were burnt; and the sheep and cattle
on the neighbouring isles carried away by the enemy.
Another partv landed on the Jersey shore^ surprised
Colonel Baylor's regiment of cavalry while asleep,
and with unequalled barbarity killed almost every man.
A party of Indians and refugee royalists, headed by
Colonels Butler and Brandt, fell suddenly on a small
settlement at Wyoming, treacherously decoyed the
guard out of the tort, under pretence of a parley, then
surrounded and destroyed the party. Great numbers
were killed after they had surrendered.
501. The taking of Savannah. In autumn. General
Clinton sent Colonel Campbell with a detacnment to
make an impression on Georgia^ He arrived at Tybee
late in December, and prepared to assault the works
near Savannah, which were in a decayed condition,
20
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t^dD HIStORY Ot THE UNITBO ^TA^Ed;
and feeUy defended. G^eneral Prevost, who commahd'
ed the British garrison at Augustine, wad directed to
co-operate in the expedition. The American force under
General Howe, did not exceed eight hundred and twenty^
men. By way of a circuitous path, the British troop^
attacked the Americans in the rear, as well as front^
and vanquished them, with the loss of ahdut one hun^*
dred men killed, and nearly five hundri^d prisoners*
The British took possession of Savannah. At this
time an insurrection of royalists in North Caroliha was
crushed hy the spirited exertions of the militia. In this
year a more regular discipline was introduced into the
army by Baron Steuben, a Grerman officer.
602. Predatory eaxurHona of the Brituh clrmp, in
1T79. Early in 1T79, Sir George Collier and General
Matthews were detached to Virginia for the purpose
of distressing the Americans* They landed at Ports-
mouth, and destroyed the shipping sind taluable stores
in that vicinity, with many houses. In June, a party
under General Vaughan took possession of an eminence
on the west side of the Hudson, called Stonv Pointy
and obliged the small garrison at a redout, called Fa^
yette, to surrender prisoners of war. In July a party
under GJeneral Tryon invaded Connecticut, under pre-
text of destroying the privateers which infested Long
Island, and also to draw, if possible, General Washing-
ton from his position at the highlands. In this expe-
dition, the British forces landed at West Haven, and
by a circuitous march entered New Haven, after some
opposition, where they destroyed a number of stores,
and committed other outrages. The next day they
embarked, and proceeding westward, landed and burnt
the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk, then returned to
New York.
503. The taking of Stony Point, The British
troops having fortified Stony Point, and garrisoned it
with six hundred men, Greneral Wayne was detached
with a body of troops to take it. Having performed a
difficult march, he conmienced the attack m the depth
of night, at two different points, with unloaded muskets,
depending on the bayonet tdone for success. Geu^nu
Digitized by Google
WAR OP THC BBYOLOTION. 7S1
Wayiie was wounded ; but the troops, under the brarc
Colonel Meigs and other officers, advanced amidst a
tremendous fire of grape shot and musketry, removed
the obstacles, and entered the works. The whole gar-
rison surrendered, amounting to more than five hundred
men: the loss on each side being less than a hundred
men, killed and wounded. An attempt, soon after, to
surprise the fortified post at Paulus Hook, miscarried.
A still more important expedition, planned by Massa-
chusetts, in the same season, against the British post
at Penobscot, failed, with immense loss. A body of
troops landed and laid siege to the fort, but a British
naval force, under Sir GJeorge Collier, appearing at the
harbor, the attempt was frustrated. The American
armed ships, being a frigate of thirty-two guns, one of
twenty, one of eighteen, several smaller ships, and
twenty-four transports, were burnt or sunk witnout of-
fering any resistance to the- enemy.
504t. Operations in South Carolina and Georgia.
General Lincoln had been appointed to the command
of the southern American army, and the British forces
had been re-enforced. In May, General Ash was de-
feated by the enemy, under General Prevost, at Briar
Creek, with the loss of one hundred and fifty men killed,
and about the same number taken. Emboldened by
this success, General Prevost contemplated to take pos-
session of Charleston; but the most strenuous efibrtsof
the governor of the state, the militia, and the com-
mander of the regular forces, defeated the attempt, and
the British troops retired to the isles. In Septemberj
Count d'Estaing arrived with his fleet from the West
Indies, and it was determined to attack General Prevost
at Savannah. At first a regular siege was begun, but
the Count, impatient of delay, urged an assault. On
the 9th of October^ an attempt was made to storm tho
works ; both Americans and Frenchmen behaved with
great gallantry, but were repulsed with the loss of more
than a thousand men, among whom was Count Pulaski,,
a Polish officer in the American service.
605. ExpedUum of Qeneral Stdlivan. To impress
terror on the savages, and disable them in future from
232 BISTORT OF TDB UNITED SPATES.
raya^ng the frontiers^ General Sullivan was sent in
the summer of 1T?9, with a strong force, to destroy their
towns. He entered the country of the Six Nations^
destroyed forty villages, with all the corn and their
fruit trees, and returned with little loss. In this sum-
mer the Britbh troops evacuated Rhode Island, and the
French fleet, after the repulse at Savannah, returned
to the West Indies. The court of Spain acknowledged
the independence of the United States, and sent a force
which took possession of Florida, by tiie surrender of a
23ritish garrison. The British troops held Savannah,
and the Americans under General Lincoln, retired to
Ch^rles^on. Thus ended the campaign of 1779.
506. Taking of Charleston. Sir Henry Clinton,
finding it tnore easy to make an impression on the
southern states, which were less populous than the
northern, find being a level country, rendered the trans-
portation of artillery less difficult, determined to make
them the seat of war. Agreeable to this resolution,
he sailed from New York, with a large force, in the
severe winter of 1779-80; and after a tempestuous pas-
sage, in which he lost some of his transports, arrived
at Savannah the latter part of January. From Sa-
vannah the army proceeded to Charleston, and in April
laid siege to that city. The enemy made regular ap-
proaches, and finally oeing prepared to storm &e towi^
General Lincoln was compelled to capitulate. About
two thoueand five hundred men, besides the militia and
inhabitants, became prisoners, and all the cannon and
military stores. This happened on the 12th of May,
1780. General Clinton left Lord Comwallis to com-
mand the troops in the southern army, and returned U>
New York. Great numbers of the people in South Ca-
rolina, being left defenseless, returned to their alle-
giance, and the British commander represented the
state as subdued.
607. War in the Southern States, No sooner was
Charleston in the hands of the enemy, than dispositions
were made Xq secure obedience in the interior country.
For this purpose, a considerable force was sent to Cam-
den, whffire the British commander, Lord Rawdon, col-
uigitizea by Google
WAR Of THfi ^EVOLtrtlON. 233
lected his stores, and took up his quarters. Many severe
skirmishes took place betwfeen small parties. Colonrf
Tarleton, an active partisan, commanding a body of
British cavalry, defeated Colonel Buford, and put most
<if his men to the sword. Colonel Sumpter, of Caro-
lina, collected a small band of men. and bravely at-
tacked small ^rties of the enemy, thus reviving the
drooping spirits of his countrymen. General Gates
was sent to replace Greneral Lincoln in the chief com-
inand, and troops were collected to oppose the progress
bf the British rorces.
i508. Battle at Camden. Lord CornwalliSj hearing
%hat General Gates was approaching Camden, repaired
to that place to re-enforce Lord Rawdon. The two ar-
knies met on the 16th of August, and a severe action
ensued. The American militia fled at the first fire, and
could not be rallied ; the regular American troops fought
with great bravery, but were at last overcome, and re-
treated, leaving tneir artillery, wagons, and two thou-
sand stands of arms. The loss of the Americans was
seyen or eight hundred men, among whom was the
Baron de Kalb, a Prussian, and the second officer ia
command. The British loss was three or four hundred
men. The next day Col. Tarleton was detached to
attack Greneral Sumpter, who lay at Fishing Creek,
with a considerable body of troops. Such was the cele-
rity of Tarleton's movements, that he surprised General
Sumpter, cut off his men from their arms, routed, killed,
and dispersed the whole party. General Gates, with
the feeble remains of his army, retreated to Hillsbo-
rough, in North Carolina.
^9. Condition of the Carolinas^ and the excurs^ion
to Springfield. During the war in the southern states,
the inhabitants were in a condition of extreme distress.
The patriots were proscribed, and their estates seques-
tered by the British commander. The country was
overrun, and exhausted of provisions : and inveterate
hostilities were carried on oetween neighbors and for-
mer friends who had espoused different sides of the dis-
pute. A large party of royalists, headed by Major
Ferguson and encamped on the confines of North Caro*
20*
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
234 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.'
Ima, were attacked, and most of them slaio or taken im-
soners by a band of patriotic volun teers. Lord Com wal-
lis, by the sickness of his troops, and the severe loss o£
men at Camden, was obliged to remain inactive. Gen.
Sumpter collected a body of volunteers, and continued
to harass the enemy and intercept their convoys* Da-
ring these operations in Carolina, a body of nve thou-
sand troops, under a Hessian genera), passed into New-
Jersey, burnt a number of houses at Connecticut Farms,
and the PresbyteriSm church. In this excursion, the
wife of Mr. Caldwell, a respectable cler^man, was
shot as she sat with a child m her arms, in her own
house. *rhe enemy advanced to Springfield, a consider-
, able part of which they burnt, but they met with such
severe resistance from a small force under General
Green, that they returned to New York.
610. Finances of the United States, There being
no constitutional government when the war began, and
}xo power to tax the confederated colonies, the Congress
adopted the expedient of defraying the expenses of the
war, by means of bills of credit. One emission after
another was ushered into circulation, and none of it
recalled by taxes, till such a quantity was emitted that
its value depreciated to one fortieth part, and ultimately
to one hundredth part of its nominal value ; that is, it
required qne hundred dollars in paper, to purchase one
dollar in specie. With this paper was the army paid.
The soldiers had long been discontented, thus to lose
their wages while serving their country ; and in 1780,
their murmurs ripened into opened mutiny. But the
punishment of the ringleaders, and the expostulations
of the officers, prevailed to bring them back to their duty.
511. Arrived of a French squadron. In July. 1780,
arrived at Newport, a French fleet under Monsieur qe Ter-
nay, consisting of seven ships of the line, with frigates,
and six thousand land forces commanded by General Ro-
chambeau. The troops were landed, and the fortifi-
cations made strong. This gave new life to the
American councils and arms ; the army was re-enforced,
and dispositions made to strike an effectual blow. But
suddenly the French fleet left the harbor and returned
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WAR OF THE DEVOLUTION. 235
to France, without giving the least notice to General
Washington; so that all hope of naval assistance va-
nished. The land forces remained and co-operated in
the final reduction of the British forces in America ;
but General Washington was extremely angry and dis-
appointed at the conduct of the French commander.
612. Arnold's Treachety, During these affairs, a
plot of immense danger was happily discovered. Ge-
neral Arnold, after his wounds had in a manner disabled
him, was appointed to a command in Philadelphia ;
where his oppressive and overbearing measures had pro-
voked a severe inquiry into his conduct. A committee
appointed by Congress to examine his accou|;^ts, had
rejected many of them as unjust; and his severe in-
vectives^ on tne occasion, and the charges against him,
had subjected him to a trial by court martial, by which
he was sentenced to be reprimanded. By these pro-
ceedings, Arnold was greatly exasperated, and he deter-
mined on revenge. Uenerah Washington still valued
him for his bravery and his former military services,
and intrusted him with the chief command at the im-
portant post, at West Point. He took that opportunity
to carry on a negotiation with the British commander
in New York, for the surrender of the post into the
hands of the enemy.
513. Detection of the 'plot. For the purpose of con-
certing all tlie requisite measures, Major Andre, adju-
tant general of the British army, proceeded to West
Point in disguise, where he took plans of the fortresses,
and agreed upon the time and manner of attack. He
then received a passport from Arnold, and set out on
his return to New York, under the name of Anderson.
He had passed all the outposts of the American army,
when, riding along the road in Tarry town, he was
stopped by three militiamen, who were on a scouting
party. Major Andre, alarmed for his safety, offered his
watch and a purse of gold, for permission to proceed,
hut the men refused the bribe, and seized him. The
papers found in his boot evidenced his guilt, and he was
condemned and executed. Every effort was made by
the British commander in New York to obtain his re-
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HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES.
CAPTURE OF ANDRE,
lease ; but in vain. His life was forfeited by the laws
of war. His fortitude and amiable deportment, however,
endeared him to the officers of the American army, who
regretted the necessity of his fate.
514. General Arnold^s escape. The news of the
seizure of Andre^ soon reached the ears of Greneral
Arnold, who, leavmg his family and effects, immediately
fled and went on board the V ulture, a sloop of war,
which the British commander had stationed near the
American lines, for the purpose of carrying on the ne-
gotiation. General Washington arrived in camp from
Connecticut, just after Arnold had made his escape ;
and found the affairs of the garrison in disorder. He
received a letter from Arnold, requesting that his wife
might be treated with respect, and suffered to join him^
or return to Philadelphia, and also that his baggage
might be sent to him; which requests were granted.
Arnold received the reward of his treason, and the com-
mission of brigadier-general in the British army. He
then issued a paper explaining the motives of hi3
conduct, and had the impudence to publish an address
10 the American army inviting officers and soldier*
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WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 837
to betray their country ; but without the least suc-
cess.
515. Operations in Carolina, in the winter of 1780-
81. In the autumn of 1780, General Greene, an excel-
lent officer, was appointed to the command of the
American forces in Carolina. He was accompanied by
Col. Morgan, an active officer, who commanded a body
of riflemen. The first action, after this appointment,
was fought at the Cowpens, where Col. Morgan was
attacked by Col. Tarleton, who had the advantage of
numbers. Col. Morgan placed a body of militia in
front of a wood, while his best troops were drawn up
in the Year and out of sight. The first line gave way,
and as Tarleton pursued them, the other line opened to
let his men advance, until they were placed between two
fires, when a deadly discharge from Morgan's troops
threw the enemy into irrecoverable disorder. The
enemy lost three hundred men killed and five hundred
prisoners. The loss of the Americans was twelve men
Killed and sixty wounded.
516. Battle near Guilford Court-Hbitse. After the
disaster at the Cowpens, Lord Cornwallis determined to
intercept Col. Morgan, and retake the prisoners, but a
heavy rain during the night swelled the rivers so as to
prevent his design. To enable^iis troops to march with
more celerity, he destroyed all his heavy })aggage. At
length General Greene joined Col. Morgan, with ad-
ditional forces, and Lord Cornwallis, having collected
his troops, the armies mt^t near the court-house in Guil-
ford. The action was fought on the 15th of March^
1781. The Americans amounted to between four and
^Ye thousand men, but mostly militia, or inexperienced
soldiers. The British force consisted of about half the
number of veterans. The battle was fought with great
bravery and efi*ect; for although Lord Cornwallis re-
mained master of the field, his losses, in a country
where he could not recruit his army, had the effect of a
defeat. His loss was more than five hundred men.
That of the Americans could not be less.
517. Subsequent operations. Lord Cornwallis not
being able to pursue his advantages, General Greene
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
288 ^ BI8T0BT OP THS DNITCD VTATBS.
marehed to Camden, whefe Lord Rawdon was finrtified,
with nine hundred men. The British command^
aallied out and attacked him; victoiy for some time
hung in susj^nse ; but the retreat or two companies,
gave the British the advantage. The loss on each
Bide was between two and three hundred men. Greneral
Greene did not remain inactive : a number of {K>sts, in
different parts of the country, fell successively into his
power, with supplies of military stores. General Greene
laid siege to Ninety Six, a strong post ; but Lord Raw*
don, with a re-enforCement, advancing to its relief, Gren.
Greene attempted to take it by storm. But the attempf
failed, with the loss of one hundred and ^fty men.
518. Battle at the Eutaw Springe. Many skir-
mishes and movements took place in the summer of
1781 ; but on tba 19th of September, General Greene,
with about two thousand mep, attacked Col. Stewart, at
the Eu^w Springs. After a severe fire between ad-
vanced parties, the action became general, and the
militia gave way. General Greene then ordered the re-
gular troops of the Maryland and Virginia lines to
advance with trails arms, and make a ^ee use of the
bayonet. A shower of musketry and a severe cannon-
ade, made no considerable impression on this body;
they attacked the enemy, and won the victory. Five
hundred men were taken prisoners, and the wnole loss
of the British was estimated at eleven hundred. Col.
Washington, bravely advancing to dislodge a party of the
enemy from a picketed garden and house, was wounded
and taken prisoner. Col. Stewart, the next day, aban^
doned the place, and retreated towards Charleston.
519. Arnold^ explpiie in Virginia^ Early in 1781,
General Arnold was dispatched with about seventeen
hundred nien, to make a diversion in Virginia, by calling
the attention of the Virginians from Lord Comwallis.
Greneral Philips, with two thousand troops, was sent
from New York to re-enforce him. General Washings
ton detached General Lafayette, with two thousand
men, to oppose the enemy in Virginia ; and a small
naval force, under De Temay, sailed from Newport to
block up the Chesapeake and tako the British troops. An
WAR OF THE RCVOLUTIOR. Z3&
inconsiderable action took place between this fleet and
a division of the British ships under Admirals Arbuth*
not and Graves. Bat the French ships returned, and
left the British »|uadron to succor the army in Vir-
ginia. The British troops were employed tor a long
time without nluch interruption, in destroying the ware-
houses, tobacco mills, and other property on James'
river and the Appomattox, and immense was the de-
dtruction of property.
82Q. JunctionqftJie British forces in Virginia, Af-
ter the severe action at Guilford, Lord Cornwallis
retreated to Wilmington in North Carolina. His troops
suffered every possible distress from the want of pro*
visions and clothing, and the extreme heat of' the cli-
mate. He therefore determined to force a* march
through a most inhospitable desert, and join the troops
under General Philips in Virginia. He arrived m
May, and took the command of the united forces. Gren.
Philips died of a fever before his arrival. After some
predatory warfare, Lord Cornwallis encamped at York-
town and Gloucester Point On York river, which
affords deep water for shipping, and there he fortified
his camps ; the main body of tne army being on the
south side of the river at Yorktown, and his whole
force being about seven thousand men.
621. Events which led to the attack on Lord Corn-
wallis, In the year 1780, a plan of combined operations
against the British forces in America, was preconcerted
by General Washington, at Wethersfield, in conjunc-
tion with Greneral Rochambeau, General Knox, and
other generals. General Washington was induced to
this, by the absolute necessity of obtaining some splen-
did advantage, to revive the expiring hopes and languid
exertions of the American states. The point of attack
was not absolutely determined ; for it was not possible
to foresee where the enemy would be most susceptible
of impression. But the General determined to be pre-
pared, either for an attack on New York, if the pjtospect
of success should be clear; or upon any other impres-
sible point. For this purpose great exertions were made
in eollecting artillery, bo^itsy stores, and provisions. At
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240 BI8T0BY OF THE UNItCD I^ATES.
the same time, the Greneral gave oat and caused it to be
understood by all ranks of officers, civil and military,
that New York was to be the place of attack,- with a
view to induce the eastern and middle states to exert
themselves in furnishing supplies. After Lord Com*
wallis had collected a large body of forces in Virginia,
and General Washington had determined that it would
be best to attack his army, he wrote letters to Greneral
Greene and others, stating his intention to attack New
York, and contrived to have these letters intercepted
by the British commander, in New York, who was
completely deceived, and prevented from sending sue-'
cors to Lord Corn wallis.
522. Siege of Yorktown. After making a show of*
attacking New- York, General Washington suddenl]^
quitted this camp, crossed the Hudson with his army^
and passing through New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
speedily arrived at the head of Elk, where a part of
his forces embarked and sailed to Virginia ; the rest
marched by land. At this moment. General Wash^
ington heard of the arrival of the French fleet under"
Count de Grasse, in the Chesapeake. Admiral GhraVes
made an attempt to relieve Lord Comwallis ; and his
fleet had a slignt engagement with the French fleet,
near th^ capes of the Chesapeake, but without the in-
tended efiect. A body of the French troops was landed,
to coHOperate with the Americans. The whole com-
bined force under General Washington, amounting to
twelve or thirteen thousand men^ besides the militia,
closely invested the British army m Yorktown.
523. Burning of New London* No sooner had Sir
Henry Clinton discovered that General Washington
had drawn off" his forces towards Virginia, than he sent
General Arnold on another expedition for plunder and
destruction. On the 6th of September, 1781, the
British forces landed near New London in Connecticut,
in two divisions; one took Fort Trumbull, without
■difficulty, the other met with a brave resistance from
Colonel Ledyard, and about seventy men suddenly col-
lected from the town of Groton. The assailants lost
their commanders ; Col. Eyre was wounded, and Majoi
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WAH OF THE RBTOLUTION.
241
Feiguson killed ; but they took the fort by assaalt, and
slaughtered the garrison after they hadf surrendered.
Colonel Ledyard was slain with his own sword. The
party then proceeded to^bum the town of New London;
sixty dwelling-houses, eighty-four stores, and a great
amount of property, were devoted to the flames. A part
of the shipping was sent up the river and saved ; the
rest was destroyed.
SURRENDER OF CORNWAULIS.
524. Surrender of Lord Cornwallis and his arnnj-
The British army being blockaded by sea. the American
army opened the first batteries upon tliem, early in
October, with such effect as to silence part of ihcir ar-
tillery. Two British redouts, which annoyed the
operations, were assaulted and taken, one by Colonel
Hamilton, at the head of a party of American troops,
who attacked with unloaded arms, and carried the works
with little loss ; the other by a detachment of French
troops, who suffered considerable loss. The second
parallel was begun on the night of the 11th ; and such
was the tremendous effect of the American artillery,
that the British works were demolished, their guns
21
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242 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
silenced, and no hope of relief or escitpe ranained. Oa
the 17th of the month, Lord Cornwaliis proposed a
cessation of hostilities, and on the 19th articles of
ctoitulation were signed, by which the British army,
niuit^r^r stores, and shipping, fell into the hands of Gren.
Washington.
525. Effects of the Capture of Lord CornwaUis on
the Americans. As the reduction of this division of
the British forces in America, was considered as deci-
ding the war and establishing the independence of the
United States, the news was every where received
with emotions of inexpressible joy. Divine service
wais performed in all the American brigades, and the
coihmander in chief recommended that all who were
not on duty, should join in the worship, with a serious
deportment, and that sensibility of heart, due to the
recollection of the surprising and particular interposi-
tion of Providence. Congress resolved to so in proces-
sion to churchj and make public acknowledgments of
gratitude to Heaven for the singular event. A public
thstnksgiving was recommended, and the day was ob-
served throughout the United States. Gen. Washing-
ton and the French commanders received t^e thanks of
Congress; and the American commander in chief libe-
rated all persons under arrest, that all might partake in
the general joy.
526. Consequences of the surrender of Cornwaliis.
The reduction of so large a part of the British forces
in the United States, convinced (he British nation of
the utter impracticability of conquering the country.
' The combined forces of .France and Spain had taken
Minorca from Great Britain: some of the isles in the
West Indies, and some of their possessions on the
South American coast, had shared the same fate. —
Admiral Rodney, in 1782, obtained a most important
naval victory Over the French fleet under the Count de
Grasse, which, in some degree, balanced the losses of
Great Britain : but the vast expense of money and lives
in the contest induced the British nation to wish for
peace. A change of ministry took place, which waa
fftvorable to the United States, and measures were
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WAR OP THE BBVOLUnOl*. 24S
taken in 1782 to open a negotiation. Gen. Carleton
was appointed to the command in America, and arrived
at New York in May, with instructions to propose an
accommodation. At length the ministers of the several
powers at war signed provisional articles of peace on
the 20th of Nov. 1782, by which the independence and
sovereignty of the United States were acknowledged.
On the 3d day of Sept, 1783, was signed a definitive
treaty, which secured to the United States the objects
for which they had contended, and gave them a rank
among nations.
627. The Disbanding of the Army, When the
American army was to be disbanded, new and serious
difficulties arose concerning the payment of the arrears
of their wages and rations. The want of resources to
carry on the war, and the want of a supreme power to
lay and collect taxes, had driven Congress to tne expe-
dient of emitting vast sums in bills of credit, which
depreciated almost to no value; and the interruption of
commerce, with a deluge of paper currency, banished
for a time all gold and silver from circulation.
In this state of the public treasury, the army was ill
paid and clothed, and great discontents occasioned the
resignation of officers, and rendered it impracticable to
recruit the array.
52S. Provision made for the Army in 1778. In
January 1778, Gen, Washington addressed Congress
in favour of the army ; representing that although tho
effusion of zeal, at the beginning of the contest, had
induced officers and raen to enter mto the service with-
out much regard to pecuniary considerations, yet findr
ing it to continue longer than they had at first expected,
and that they were to expose their lives, health, and
estates, to destruction, by their patriotism, without a
Erospect of a competent future subsistence, their ardor
ad abated, and a disinclination to the service pre-
vailed ; that resignations of commissions were frequ6nt,
and that reliance could not be placed on men disa^cted
to the service. He therefore ur^ed Congress to make
provision, to secure them and their families from future
waiit and distr^s. Convinced of the propriety of this
J»^7V7V IV^
844. BlflTOBT OP THS DNtTKD STATBa
meatore, Congress on the 15th of May, 1778, resolTed
to grant half pay for seven years aAer the war, to the
commissioned officers ; and to non-commissioned o&cen
and privates, eighty dollars, at the end of the war, in
addition to their pay and rations.
529. EffectMo) this Chant, and t?ie extension of it.
The half pay resolve quieted the apprehensions of the
army, in a good decree, and the service was for a time
performed with zeal and alacrity. But the continual
depreciation of the currency in which the troops receir-
ed their wages, deprived them of a great part of their
real dues, and neither officers nor soldiers could main-
tain a decent appearance, in point of dress, while the
families of manv were suffering at home. These cir-
eumstancesj with the derangement of a great number
of officers, m 1780, occasioned by the necessity of re-
ducing the number of regiments, for want of their com-
plement of men, save rise to great discontents in the
army, and called lor a further interposition of Congress.
Upon the representation of these factSL by the com-
mander in chief Congress, on the 21st of October, 17B0,
resolved, that tne officers should be entiled to half pay
for life.
630, State of the Army in 1783. Reposing confi-
dence in the ^tb of the United States, the officers of
the army remained quiet until the close of the war.
A mutiny among the soldiers, in two or three instan-
ces, occasioned some alarm, but produced no serious
conseqaences. After the army returned from York-
town, and encamped at Newburffh, on the Hudson, a
cessation of hostilities gave them leisure to contemplate
their sufferings, their losses by paper currency, and
their future prospects. At that time, a report was cir-
culated that Congress did not intend to ^liil their en-
gagements respecting half pay. They therefore depu-
ted a committee of officers to wait on Congress, with
an address and petition representing their hardships
and embarrassments ; that in 1777, they had been pm
in dollars when worth fourpence only ; and that tneir
subsequent arrearages had not been liquidated. They
therefore requested an adjustment, and payment or
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W&tt OF THE RGVOLOTION. 245
security for the balances due. And as the half pay
resolves had given uneasiness, by establishing a pre-
cedent of pensions, they requested a sum in gross in
lieu of half pay for life.
631. Proceedings of Congress on this Memorial,
In compliance with the wishes of the army, Con-
gress, on the 25th of January, resolved that the super-
intendent of finance, should pay such a part of the
arrears due the armv, as the finances would permit ;
that the states should be called on to complete a set-
tlement with their respective troops, to the first of Aug.
1780: that tke troops had an undoubted right, with all
public creditors, to expect security for the payment of
arrears, and that Congress would make every effort in
their power to obtain from the states substantial funds^^
for the whole debt. The proposition for commuting^^
half pay during lifis fpr a specific sum, was referred to
a committee tq examine the value of annyiities, and on
their report a resolution was proposed grantin|f five
years, full pay in lieu of half pay for life, but it did not
p^s. On the 8th of February the committee made a
report of these proceedings to the army.
52K2. Reception of this Report by the Army, As
Congress had little money and no means of raising it,
except the old expedient of issuing bills, the army had
little hope of any immediate relief adequate to their
wants J and conscious of their fidelity and meritorious
services, they could not patiently brook the delays at-
tending the settlement of their accounts. On the 10th
of March a notification was circulated, without a.name,
requesting a meeting of the general and field officers,
with one from each company, to consider the communi-
cations from Congress, and what measures it would be
proper to take. With this notice was circulated an
anonymous address, couched in a style of great energy,
and calculated to awaken in the army the keenest sen*
sations of indignity for the wrongs aone to the officers
and soldiers. The impression on the army was cor-
respondent to the spirit of ih6 address, and threatened
pL violent commotion.
633. Conduct of General Washington in that crisis^
21*
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246 BI9T0BY OF TBE imiTED 8TA.TES.
The commander in chiei^ with that coolness whiek
never forsook him, and with a moderation adapted to
allay the irritations of the moment, issaed the next
day a notice reproving with mildness the proposal Iot
an irregular, unauthorized meeting, and requesting the
officers to meet on a different day. On which a 8eeon4
address from the same unknown pen appeared, in which
the author indirectly intimated that the design of his
first address was not to excite to violence, but to arouse
the army to assume a more bold and manly tone, in
their solicitations for justice. The addresses were
communicated to Congress, and no doubt produced, in a
degree, the effect intended ; for on the 22d of March, a
resolution passed for a grant of ^ve years' pay in lieu
I of half pay for life. At the meeting of the officers in
pursuance of the Greneral's request, the conunander in
chief addressed them in a masterly manner, reprohating^
the anonymous address, recommending peaceable mea^-
sures, and pledging himself to exert his utmost ability
to procure full justice to be done to the army. The
officers voted him an addrpss of thanks, and resolved
that they eontiQued to have unshaken confidence in th^
justice of Cons^ress and their country. Thus was dis-
sipated one of the most menacing storms that ever
hung over America.
634. Dismisfion of the Army. At the moment this
storm had subsided, news was received that the pre-
liminaries of peace vvere signed, and on the 26th of
MaVj 1783, Ck)ngress resolved that the commander in
cfaiet be instructed to grant furlows to the non-com*
missioned officers and soldiers who were engaged in
service during the war, who should be discharged as
soon as the definitive treaty should be concluded, with
a due proportion of commissioned officers. Upon the
pdblication of that resolve, the ofEksers presented a
spirited address to the commander in chief; expressing '
their sufferings and wants, and their severe disappoint*
ment, as wellas astonishment, at being disbanded with-
out a settlement of their accounts, and a provision for
payment of the balances. They entreated him to use
his inflnetice with Congress to obtain a suspension of
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WAR OP TfiB REVOLUTION. 247
their order, and that no officer or soldier should be
obliged to receive a furlow, until Congress could be made
acquainted with the wretched condition into which
they should be plunged, if compelled to retire from the
army without a settlement of their accounts, a pay-
ment of the balances, or any evidence of what was due
to them. The request could not be granted, but the
general, in his reply, stated that a partial payment was
.soon to be made, and that every thing practicable should
be done, to bring their accounts to a final adjustment.
535. Mutiny in Pennsylvania, As it was not pos-
sible for Congress to make full payment to the army,
nor to liquidate their accounts in a short time, and as it
was important to reduce the current expenditures, the
officers and soldiers enlisted for the war, were dismissed A
with three months' pay, in notes given by the financier, ^^
payable in six months. This measure excited great,
discontents, and in Pennsylvania occasioned a mutiny. *
In June, 17o3, about eighty soldiers, belonging to a boay .
then stationed at Lancaster, deserted their officers, andit*
under the conduct of their sergeants, marched to Phila-
delphia, where they were joined by two or three hundred
soldiers from the barracks in that city. On the 2»tst of
the month they proceeded in a body, and surrounding
the State-house where Congress and the executive coun-
cil of Pennsylvania were sitting, nlaeed guards at the "
doors, sent a message to the council complaining of the
non-settlement of ieir accounts, and the want of pay,
and behaved in a menacing and disorderly manner.
636. Proceedings of Congress on this occasion, —
Congress, not choosing to deliberate when surrounded
by armed men, adjourned and retired. After the muti-
neers had withdrawn, congress appokted a committee ta^
wait on the executive council of Pennsylvania, requester
ing their efficacious aid in securing the safety of theiljf ■
persons, and preventing such indignities to the authority^
of the United States. The committee reported, that they^
had not received satisfactory assurances of the prompt
andadequ^e exertions of that state, for supportmg the
dignity of the federal goyemment. Congress therefore
a^oomed their sittings to Trenton, where they con-
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!M8 BIBTOBT OF TBC OITITCD STATCS.
|inued for some time ; and to put a stop to such out-
rages, General Washin^on was requested to send a body
of troops to Philadelphia. Accordingly a detachment
of fifteen hundred men was sent from head-quarters ;
frhich, with other measures, quelled the mutiny. The
accounts of the army had been put in a train for set-
tlement, peisons were apjKiinted to adjust and ascertain
the demands on the United States, whether for senriees
or supplies ; and certificates, which acquired the name
oi final settlements, were given as evidences of the
balances due from the public. In these was included
five years' pay to the officers, in lieu of half pay for life,
and eighty dollars allowance to the soldiers beyond their
wages.
I 537. Poptdar Discontents on account of the grant
* to the Officers, Scarcely was the army dismissed, when
attempts were made in some parts of the country, to
' excite uneasiness amon^ the people, on account of the
five years' extra pay to the officers, called commutation.
« - The uneasiness was first manifested and most violent
in the New England states, and especially in Connec-
ticut, where the symptoms of it became public in July
1783^ Town meetings were held, and resolutions pass-
ed ei^ressive of the people's disapprobation of the act
of Congress. It was said that the half pay, and the
five years' pay in lieu of it, were in the nature of pen-
sions, which are always odious among a free people ;
that the officers of the army had taken advantage of the
necessities of the country, to extort the promise of this
gratuity from Congress ; that the army had not sufiered
more than the pedplfi; that many of the officers had
rai8«d large estates ; and all of them been amply re-
^warded by extra grants and bounties.
■ 638. Frogress of these discontents. The publica-
tion of the town meeting resolves served to augment
^nd spread with rapidity the popular discontents ; and
^in autumn the crisis became alarming. A proposal for
a conventicm of deputies from the several towns in
ConnecUcut, to be held at MiOdletown, was circulated
with great success, and on the 3d day of September
^«Jegatw ffom tvrenty^ight towns assembled at Uia^
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- WAR OF THE BSVOLOTION. 949
place. For wlmt of a full representatioii of the ttate^
which was ascribed to the short notice given, they ad-
journed to the thirtieth of the same month. On that
day the convention met, and about fifty towns were re-
presented. This body, having agreed on an address to
the legislature, adjourned to the 10th of December;
when, few members attending, they adjourned to the
third Tuesday in March, 1784. On that day a few dele-
gates attended and originated an inflammatorv address
lo the people, complaining of the officers of the army,
and pronouncing the grant of five years' extra pay an
unconstitutional act.
539. Remd^of the Popular Proceedings, During
ihe democratic efiervescence in Connecticut, Congress
were accused as usurpers and tyrants ; the proposal of
a general impost to supply the public treasury was re-
probated as dangerous to the sovereignty of the several
states ; the society of the Cincinnati was represented
as an aristocracy, aiming to establish ordera otnobility ;
and a thousand bugbears were hdd up to view, to terrinr
weak and discontented minds. An attempt was made
Co circulate a ticket containing the names of new men,
for the upper house, and the old^ firm« respectable men,
who had stood at tne helm during tne tempest of the
revolution, were held up to view as objects of suspi-
cion. But the more steady and discemmg part of uie
people gave no heed to these democratic jealousies; they
represented in the papers the true state of facts ; that
tl^ army had sobered by the depreciation of paper bills;
that they endured hunger and cold for want of their
just dues ; and that the grant of Congress was essential
to the very existence of an army. Such r^resentations
had the desired effect, and, before the session of the le-
gislature in May, 1784, the towns had beccnne sensible
of their error, and dismissed their delegates.
540. Discontents in Massachusetts, In the begin-
nbg of 1784, an attempt was made by some towns in
Massachusetts to collect the sense of the people in an
irrej^lar manner, as had been done in Connecticut.
In February, a committee of the towns of Wrentham
and Medwav. with the advice of some other towns^
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29D HI8TMT OF THB ITlflTBD STATES.
wrote ft arcular letter proposing a meeting of dele-
gates from all the towns m Suifolk county, to take into
consideration the commutation act, and the proposed
general impost. On that occasion the town of Boston
held a meeting, and agreed to a letter which was sent
to the committee in answer to their circular letter ; ex-
pressing the entire disapprobation of the proposed county
meeting, as irregular and unconstitutional. They re-
probate the baleful influence of such disorderly pro-
ceedings, and manifested an acquiescence in the mea-
sures of Congress. The spirit of opposition, however,
infected the people and the legislature of that state for
some time, untu the good sense of wise and moderate
men prevailed over the intemperate zeal of popular
leaders.
541. General WashingiorCs Circular Letter, In
Jane, 1783, the commander of the American army
"wrote a circular letter to the governors of the several
states, congratulating them on the glorious termination
pf the war, and offering them his sentiments on some
important subjects. In this letter, he represented that
the republic of the United States was founded in an
enlightened period of the world, when the rights of nien
were well understood ; when science, commerce, re-
finement of manners, liberality of sentiment, and above
all, the pure and benign liffht of revelation, had meliora-
ted the state of mankind, and increased the blessing
of society ; for these reasons, if the citizens of the Uni-
ted States should fail to be free and happy^ the fault
would be entirely their oWn ; that the cup of blessings
was offered to them, but it depended on themselves
whether to be respectable and prosperous, or contempt-
ible and miserable ; and whether the revolution should
])e a blessing or a curse. In this address, he recom-
mended an indissoluble union of the states under one
federal head; a sacred regard to public justice; the
adoption of a peace establishment, and the cultivation
of pacific and friendly dispositions among the people.
He declared also his mtention of retiring to private life,
which he had left with regret, and for which he never
•eased to sigh.
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WAB OP THE RSVOLUnoif . 261
542. General Washington's Farewell Address to the
Army, The Congress, in consequence of the definitive
treaty of peace, disbanded the army by proclamation,
dated October 18, 1783. On this occasion the com-
mander in chief, on the second of November, addressed
to the army his farewell orders, in which he recapitu-
lated the principal events of the war, the disadvantages
under which it was conducted, and the perseverance
of the troops under the severest sufferings from himger,
nakedness, toils, dangers, and inclement seasons. He
gave them the strongest assurances that their services
would be rewarded, and recommended to them to carry
into civil life the most conciliating dispositions, and
the virtues of good citizens. He expressed his thank-
fulness to the officers and soldiers for their zeal, bra-
very, fortitude, and patience, and, dropping the curtain
of separation, he commended them, in a most affec-
tionate manner, to the notice of a grateful country, and
the protection of Heaven.
543. General Washinffton^s Resignation, On the
twenty-third day of DeCeinber, 1783, the commander in
chief of the American army waited on Congress, then
sitting at Annapolis, to resign his commission. On
that affecting occasion, the general addressed the presi-
dent, congratulating Congress on the auspicious issue
of the war, and the confirmation of the sovereignty and
independence of the United States. He expressed his
grateful sense of the assistance and support he had re-
ceived from the country, his obligations to the army,
and to the gentlemen who composed his family, whom
he commended to the notice of Congress. He then com-
mended the dearest interests of his country to the holy
keeping of the Supreme Disposer of events, took an
affectionate farewell of the august council of America,
under whose orders he had acted, delivered his com-
mission to the president, and took leave of all public
employments, The president rose, and with a heart
almost too full for utterance, reciprocated the generaPs
congratulations, and with the most ardent expres-
sions of gratitude for his services, and affection for
his person, commended his precious life to the fostcr-
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953 nunomr or tee ohitbd itatcs.
itkg care of Hearen. The tears of spectators eriaeed
their sensations at the sublime spectacle of the great
Washin^^ton resigning his command, and retiring,
laden with honors, to the peaceful shades of Mount
Vernon.
544. Cincinnati, During the negotiations for peace,
the officers of the army formed themselres into a soci-
ety, to whidi they gave the name of Cincinnatij after
thie celebrated Roman who was summoned from bis
plough, to take command of the armies of the republic^
and after defeating his enemies and liberating the state
from danger, returned to the cultivation of his farm.
The objects of this association were declared to be, to
perpetuate the memory of the revolution and the friend-
ship of the officers 5 to preserve inviolate the exalted
rights and liberties of human nature ; to promote and
cherish union and national honor between the States ;
and to form a fund for the relief of officers or their fa-
milies who should come to want. For this purpose,
every officer deposited a month's pay in a common
stock, which was put to interest. The honor was made
hereditary in the male issue of the officers, and, in de-
fkult of such issue, might be assigned to collateral heirs.
Distinguished men, not belonging to the army, might
be elected honorary members. Tne bad^e of the order
was a gold medal suspended by a blue nbin.
545. Popular jealousy against this Society. The
association of the Cincinnati was published at a time
when the people of the United States were oppressed
with taxesL and irritated at the grant of extra pay to the
armv. The universal iealousy of equal rights, which
the leaders of the revolution had found it necessary to
foster and cultivate, was alarmed at every thing that
bore the semblance of distinction. At this time a wri-
ter of considerable eminence in Carolina published a
pamphlet, in which he labored to prove that the society
was intended by some of its artful framers to lay the
foundation of an order of nobliity ; that it contained in
it the elements of such an order, and would certamly
result in the establishment of it. Whatever truth there
might have been in these charges, the publication had
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WAR OF THE BEVOUJTION. x63
a considerable effect in augmenting the flames of popa«
lar discontent.
546. Alteration of their Constitution. At a meetine
of delegates from the several state societies, [which
were composed of the officers of each state.] held at
Philadelphia, in May, 1784, General Washington at-
tended, and was appointed president. To obviate ob-
jections against this society, and allay the popular
uneasiness, it was judged expedient to amend the con-
stitution of the society, and expunge the most objec-
tionable articles, and especially that which rendered
the honor hereditary. On this occasion, the society
published an address to the state societies, in whieh
they declared, and appealed to Heaven for the sincerity
of their declaration, that their intentions were pure :
that as their views had been misrepresented, they would
give another proof that the officers were among the
most faithful citizens, and therefore they had agreed to
a constitution to which there could be no reasonably
objection. By this constitution, the Officers are formed
into a general society, and the officers of each state into
a state society, whose annual meetings for the choice
of officers are on the anniversary of independence. By
this institution, the friendship contracted in the army
is preserved, and the interest of the funds benevolently
applied to the relief of indigent members or their fa-
milies. ^
547. Weakness of the Confederation, In 1778, a
Elan of confederation and perpetual union was formed
y Congress, and proposed to the several states for ac-
ceptance. Most of the states acceded to it without
great delay ; but on account of some advantages, which
that plan was calculated to afford to the states possess-
ing unappropriated lands, the state of Maryland, which
possessed no such land, at first declined accenting it ;
and did not ratify it until March, 1781. In the mean
time the states were compelled by e^t^mal danger to
act in concert ; and the recommendations of Congress
were observed by the states, and usually carried into
^ect by laws enacted by the several legislatures. But
no sooner were the states released from the pressure of
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
t54 ai0TOST or tbb unitbd otates.
dangers, than the weakness of the federal compaet
began to appear. The states were no longer anxioas
to sustain the authority of Congress, whose resolutions
were disregarded, or at least not enforced. Congress
had no power to lay taxes to supply the treasury of the
United States ; the sums voted lor public service were
apportioned upon each state, to be raised in the manner
the legislature should prescribe. But the states soon
became ^linquent ; the treasurer was not supplied, and
no provision was made for paying the interest of the
public debt
648. EocpedienU to raise Money, Congress, finding
the requisitions of money from the states altogether
ineffectual, recommended to thi^ several legislatures to
grant to Congress a power to lay and collect an impost
on imported commodities, amounting to five per ceni.
Most of the states readily complifdj and passed an act
granting the power required. But Rhode Island, an
unporting state, apprehensive that such a grant would
lessen the advantages of her trtide^ decliQed passiag
an act for the purpose, and by that means de fen ted tlie
only practicable plan of replent^hing the federal treasury.
New York afterwards jomed in opposition to the mea-
sure, and rendered all prospect of a revenue hopeless.
In this situation, the authority of Congress was reduced
to a name, and the confederation to a rope of sand.
The interest of the public debt could not be paid, and
Congress issued certificates of interest, called indents :
but the certificates, both for principal and interest, dur-
ing the extinction of public credit, depreciated to one-
eighth of their real value. Two hundred millions of
dollars, in bills of credit, had been issued by Congress,
but these had sunk to no value, and ceased to circulate.
549. Paper Currencies, As the expenses of the
war, and tne destruction of commerce, had rendered
people poor, involved them in debt, and reduced them
to great distress, the legislatures of some of the states
resorted to the old expedient of bills of credit. Large
sums were issued ; in some states the bills were loaned
to the inhabitants on mortgages of real estate ; in
others they were circulated under Uie compulsion of
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WAB OF TH£ REYOLUTION. 256
tender laws : in most of them, the bills depreciated and
occasioned numerous frauds. Other states, avoiding
the evils of a paper currency, suspended the collection
of debts for a limited time, or made various commodi-
ties a legal tender in discharge of debts. In some states
the bills sunk not more than ten per cent 5 in others,
to almost nothing ; and being limited in circulation, to
the bounds of states, were extremely inconvenient as a
medium of business.
550. Public Creditors, No fund having been pro-
vided by Congress for the payment of the principal or
interest of the federal debt, the certificates lost their
value, and the creditors of the United States were left
in a Iiopelesa coadiuoa. Such of them as were pos-
sessed of other property, were not reduced to wretch-
ed ness : but many of the officers and soldiers, or their
widows and orphan children, were depriveu of the
ijicana of subsistence. In this * distressed condition,
many wera compelled to sell their certificates at any
j^rice tbat was oBered ; and as it was doubtful whether
Congress would ever have the ability to redeem them,
few persons would risk to purchase them. In this state
of public credit^ particular men made it their business
to Duy and sell tne certificates, and thus acquired the
name of speculators. This irregular business conti-
nued until the debt was funded ; but in the mean time
most of the army notes had been sold at about a sixth
or an eighth of their nominal value. Thus the brave
men, who had endured hardships, cold, and hunger, who
had fought the battles of the countiy, and repeatedly
received solemn assurances of ample recompense for
their toils, were forced to sell their securities for a mere
trifle, to save their families from starving.
551. 7\ade of the United States, During the three
last years of the war, when contiuental bills had
Ceased to circulate, large quantities of gold and silver
had been introduced into the country, oy the French
army, and an illicit trade to Spanish America. No
sooner was peace proclaimed, than a vast importation
of British goods was begun ; and was matly encou-
raged by the real wants of America, and the superabun
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850 HI8T0RT OP THfi UNITED STATES.
dance of ^oods in Great Britain. This trade was at
first lucrative to both parties, but in a short time occa-
sioned a scarcity of specie, which had been remitted in
ship loads to Great Britain for ^oods. This evil was
rendered the more durable, by the restrictions laid on
the trade of the United States to the West Indies ; for
Great Britain, enforcing her navigation laws, shut her
ports against American ships, or laid enormous duties
on our most valuable exports.
562. Effects of these Meas7ires. The restrictions
on our trade, and the indiscreet importations of British
goods on credit, in the course of two or three years,
totally exhausted the country of money, and the mer-
chants could not possibly make remittances to meet
their engagements. Hence proceeded numberless bank-
ruptcies among the American merchants, which caused
^at failures also in England ; multituaes were mined
m both countries, and then followed great distresses, an
annihilation of private credit and mercanlile confidence.
To remedy these evils, the state legislatures adopted the
most pernicious measures. Some of them expected
relief m emissions of bills' of credit; some of them
attempted to retalinte, and imposed restraints on the
British trade to this country, to induce the ministry to
relax the rigor of her navigation laws, and enter into a
commercial treaty with the United States. But at the
same time, the neighboring states opened their ports to
all the world, and counteracted the operation of such
restraints. In this miserable disjointed condition, the
statfe sovereignties thwarted each other's schemes, the
dignity of the union was lost in the narrow views of
petty state rivalries, our national character was de-
graded, the United States became a jest a»d a by-word
among nations, and were threatened with civil conmao-
tions of the most formidable nature.
5p3. Insurrection in Massachusetts. During the
extinction of the authority of Congress, Massachusetts
made an effort to maintam her credit, and laid a very
heavy tax to satisfy her creditors. As the country had
not recovered from the distresses of the war ; as trad**
and manufactures had declined, and the habits of the
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NEW CONSTITUTION. 257
people had become luxurious and lieentious, by mean$
of a liberal credit of goods, and a disorganized state of
the government, the measures of the legislature were
found to favor more of a zeal for doing justice, than of
expediency. The people opposed the tax ; in some parts
of the state, county meetings were held, and abusing
the privilege of petitioning K)i a redress of grievances,
they proceeded to combine their scattered forces; the
people obstructed the sitting of courts, and finally took
arms in opposition to. the laws of the state. Some
skirmishing ensued, and several persons were killed;
while, in scmie counties, the friends of the government
were robbed and plundered. The prudent and concili-
ating measures of Grovernor Bowdoin and his council,
seconded by an armed force, under Greneral Lincoln, in
the winter of 1786, gradually subdued the spirit of
opposition, aud restored the authority of the laws,
554. First attempts to establish a more effectual
government. Discerning men, before the conclusion
of the war, were convinced that the confederation was
defective and utterly insufficient to accomplish the ends
of a national union. In February, 1783, a merchant of
Philadelphia published a pamphlet on the subject ; in
which he clearly proved the necessity of a new consti-
tution, which snould divide Congress into two houses,
and give them more ample powers. The events of a
few years demonstrated the opinions of that discerning
writer. In the June following, General Washington,
in his letter to the several governors, urged the neces-
sity of enlarging the powers of Congress. These re-
commendations were disregarded, until the public
calamities became urgent, and a resort to arms became
the theme of conversation, and the subject of secret
deliberations. In the spring of 1785, a pamphlet, pro-
posing distinctly a new constitution of government for
the Imited States, was carried by the writer to Mount
Vernon, and presented to General Washington. That
gentleman referred the arguments on the subject to a
member of the legislature of Virginia. About the close
of that year, a proposition was made and carried in
the legislature, to appoint commissioners, to form a
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258 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
system of commercial regulations for the United
States ; and to request the other states to concur in the
ineasure.
A55. Formation of the Nev> Constitution. In pur-
^nance of the request of Virginia, some of the states
appointed delegates, who assembled at Annapolis, Sep-
tember 14, 1786. But. on examining their commissions,
it was judged that tneir powers were too limited to
enable them to accomplish any desirable purpose; they
therefore adjourned, with instructions to advise the
states to appoint agents, with more ample powers, to
meet at Philadelphia the next year. Accordingly, dele-
sates from the several states assembled in that city in
May, 1787, and appointed the venerable Washington
for their president. That gentleman had retired to his
farm in 1783, with a fixed determination never more
to engage in public affairs ; but he was selected by Vir-
ginia as one of the delegates on this important occa-
sion, and pressed to accept the appointment. After four
months' deliberation, the convention agreed to a frame
of government for the United States, and recommended
it to the several states for adoption.
556. Ratification of tJie Federal Government. The
states referred the question of adopting the frame of
government, to conventions appointed for that express
purpose. On that occasion, popular jealousy appeared
in all its force. It was objected, that the plan of go-
vernment proposed abridged the states of their sove-
reignty, and amounted to a consolidation. This was
a Suitrul theme of declamation, notwithstanding all
the calamities tliat had arisen from the jealousies and
clashing interests of the states, and a want of unifor-
mity in public me^ures. Many other objections were
urged, especially in the large states. At length, how-
ever, the proposed frame *of federal government was
accepted and ratified, in 1788, by eleven states, and
became the constitution of the United States. The first
convention, in North Carolina, rejected it ; as did the
town meetings to which it was referred, in Rhode
Island. But North Carolina acceded to it in Novem-
ber, 1789; and Rhode Island in May, 1790. The ra-
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aUESTlONS. !K59
tification of the constitution was celebrated in the large
cities, with great joy and splendid exhibitions. An
armed ship, the emblem of commerce and naval defense,
and stages for mechanical labor, the emblems of manu-
factures, were mounted on wheels and drawn through
the streets, attended by immense processions of citizens,
arranged according to their professions ; while bands of
iTiusic, strjeamipg flags, and the roar of cannon, mani-
fested the enthusiasm with which the people received
the authority of the national government.
557. Organization of the New Constitution. Ac-
cording to the constitution, the .several states elected
their delegates to Congress, and by a unanimous vote,
General Washington was elected first president. With
deep regret that distinguished citizen was compelled,
by the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens,
to leave his beloved retirement, and accept the high
office of supreme magistrate. On the 30th of April,
1789, he was inaugurated president of the United States.
The ceremony was performed in the open gallery of the
Gity Hall, in New York; in presence of a countless mul-
titude of spectators ; where the oath was administered
to him by the chancellor of the state of New York.
The importance of the act, the novelty of the scene,
the dignity of the general's character, the gravity of his
manner, and the reverence with which he took the so^
lemn oath, impressed upon the transactio^ a solemnity
never before witnessed in America.
aUESTIONS.
422. What jealousy did the English court entertain respect-
ing the American colonies 1
423. Wha^ steps were taken to prevent the independence
of the colonies 1
424. When yreie the colonies alarmed, and what relieved
themi
425. What did Charles II. require of the colonies 1
426. What was the navigation act, and how did it affect tho
colonies'?
426. Which of the colonial goviemors first submitted to %hc
acf?
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200 HISTORY OF THE UXITGD STATES.
427. Who WM sent from England to enforce the lawe of
tr»de 1 What measures did he pursue 1
428. What kmg was favorable to the cdoniee 1
429. What was the source of contention in New York 1
430. What controversies existed between the governor of
Penasjlvania and the assembly 1
431. What occasioned contentions in Carolina 1
433. When was the proprietors' charter annulled 1
432. When did the crown purchase Carolina 1
433. What were the remote causes of the revolution in
A'lierical
434. What were the immediate causes of the revolution 1
435. What was the stamp act, and why was it made 1
436. How was the stamp act received in the colonies 1
437. What leasons didf the parliament urge for taxing the
eoloniesl
438. What were the opinions and declarations of British
statesmen on the subject of taxing the colonies 1
439. Why did the colonies oppose the claims of Great Britain
to tax the colonies ?
440. What occasioned the repeal of the stamp act 1
441. What ftuther attempt was made by Great Britain to
nise a revenue in the colonies 1
443. What ooeaidoned the smuggling of goods 1
443. When did Great Britain first send a miUtary force to
Boston, and how many reffiinents 1 When was the sloop of war
Gaspee burnt and wliere T
444. When was an act of parliament passed to send persons
charged with treason to England for trial, and what efiect had
this act 7
445. When was the first Uood shed by the troops in Boston 1
What was the cause 1 How many were killed 3
446. When was the tea of the East India Company destroy-
ed, and how was it done 1
447. What other measures dkl parliaboent pursue towards
Massachusetts?
448. When was the act past to shut the port of Boston 1
What was the effect ?
449. What was the first step towards organizing opposition
to the acts of Great Britain 1
450. When did Governor Gfa^ arrive in Boston 1
451. What steps did the colonies pprsue in this crisis 1
452. What measures did Governor Gbge adopt 1
453. How did the Provincial Congress originate?
454. What steps were taken to unite the colonies 1
454. When cQd the first genera] Congress convene 1
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QtTESTIONS, 291
455. What weve the first measures of the Congiip^s 1
456. What effects had the measures of Congress on the Bri-
tish parliament ?
457. What was the condition of the parties, at the beginLisg
of the revolutionary war 1
45S. What preparatory measures did the parliament adopt 1
459. What were the preparatory measures of Congress 1
460. When and where md the British troops first fire on the
Americans 1 How many .men were killed 'i
461 . When and why did the British troops march to Concord 1
And what W|is the consequence 1
462. When did Congress raise an army*? How did they
provide for paying the expenses of the war 1 When did they
take the appellation of United Colonies 1
463. What measures did Grovernor Gage tal(e after the skir-
mish at Concord 1
464. How did the British attempt to intercept the works on
Breed's [or Bunker's] Hill 1 What wjis the slaughter and the
event of the hattle 1
465. Why did the British commander bum Charfe«town'?
and what was the effect 'i
466. Who surprised and took Ticonderoga and Crown Point 1
467. What were the measures of Congress after the first
shedding of blood by the British troops 7
463. Who was appointed commander in chief of the Ameri-
can army, and when 1
469. When and by whom was St. John's taken %
470. By what way > did the Americans march to CLuebec'?
Who commanded them 1 What was the event of the attack 1
471. When and by whom was Norfolk burnt 1
472. When were the colonial governments dissolved %
473. How was Grencral Washington treated on his way to
the army in Cambridge? What was the American army and
how furnished 1
474. When was Falmouth in Maine burnt 1 Whftt was the
effect 1 What supplies were obtained by privateers 1
475. When was Boston evacuated by the British troops 1
And what was the cause 1
476. How did Great Britain augment her army? What
force was sent to conquer the colonies in 1776 1
477. How were the minds of Americans prepared for the de-
claration of independence 1
478. When were the colonies declared independent 1 Who
made the motion in Congress 1
479. Who commandeil the attack o^ SolUvari's islwid, and
how did it resijll 1
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2G3 BISTORT OF THB ClIITBD STATES.
480. After the defeat al auebec, to what place did the
Ameficana ntieat, and what places dad ther fortify 1
481. When did the British troops arriTe in New Yoifcl
Where did Geneiml Washington erect fortifications 1
482. Who had an interview with General Washington in
New Yorki How did it terminate 1 What was the event of
the hattle on Lam Island 1
483. How was the retreat firomLonff Island effected 1
483. What was the ikte of CapUdn Ualel
484. What attempt did Lord Howe make towards recooci-
liation 7 What was the result 1
485. What was the fkte of Colonel Knowlton 1 What part
of New York was humt 1
486. To what part of the country did Qeneial Washington
retreat 't Where ^ he gain victories 1 I
486. Where was General Mercer killed 7 ]
487. WTiere did the British troops winter after the campaign 1
What iramber of troops had General Washington 1 Yfhea
was General Washington inrested with unUmited powers 1
488. When were the stores at Peekskill and Danbnry burnt 1
What general opposed the British at Danbuiy — and which was
killedr - ^^^
489. When did General Burgoyne cross the lake and the
Americans abandon Ticonderoga 1
490. When was the battle of Bennington, and what wa«
the result?
t 491. Where and by what generals was Burgoyne first de-
Teated?
493. Where and when was his final defeat and surrender?
493. When was fought the hattle at Brandywine and what
the result?
494. What was the eirent of the battle at Germantown?
495. When were commissiimers sent by Great Britain to ,
negotiate with Congress?
496. When was a treaty formed between France and the
United States?
497. What was the result of the negotiation with the British
commissioners?
498. When was fought the battie at Monmouth ?
499. When did a French fleet arrive to aid America ?
500. What were the prindpal events of 1778 ?
501. When and by what general was Savannah taken ? i
502. When and by whom vnm Portsmouth in Virginia inva-
ded ? Who took possesRon of Stony Point ? Who invaded !
New Haven in 1779, and burnt Fairfield and Norwalkt
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QOfisnoMB. 203
503. Who retook Stony Pomtl What was the fiitoof an
expedition against a British post at Penobscot 1
504. Who commanded the Amerieans in 1779 1 Who de-
feated Gen. Ash 1 When was an attempt made to take Savan-
nah by stonni What Fetish officer k)st his life?
505. Who destroyed the Indian towns in 1779 1 When did
Spain acknowledge the Independence of the United States 1
506. Who took Charleston in 1780 1
507. What ether events took j^ace in Carolina 1 When did
General Gates take the command of the southern troops 1
506. When was the battle ot Camden fought, and what
generals commanded 1 What was the result 1 •
509. What was the condition of the Carolinas after that
battle 1 When was Springfield in New-Jersey attacked 1 What
lady was killed in her own house?
510. What was the state of bills of credit in 17801 What
caused a mutiny in the army 1
51 1. When did a French fleet arrive under Temay 1 What
Praa done by the fleet 7
512. When and how did General Arnold plot to deliver
West Point to the British commander.?
513. How was tbis plot detected, and who suffered death 1
514. How did General Arnold escape ?
515. When did General Greene take command of the South-
em army, and where was the first action 1
516. When was fouffht the battle near Guilford court
house 1 Who commanded and what was the result ? . .
517. When wen the attacks on Lord Rawdon and at Ninet^
Sixl
518. When was the battle at the Eutaw Springs and what
the result?
519. What expk>its did Arnold perform in Virginia? What
opposition was made ? What naval action took place ?
520. YHiere did the forces under Lord Cornwallis and
Grenenil Philips unite ? Where did Cornwallis encamp ?
521.' What events led to the attack on Cornwallis, and what
preparatory measures were taken to deceive him ?
522. By what rapid march did Greneral Washington surprise
the British general ? And what event favored him ?
523. When and by whom was New-London burnt 7 What
was the &te of CoL Ledyard and his men in Groton ?
524. 5^. When did Lord Cornwallis surrender to Gen«Eal
Waslungton, and what was the event ? WhtX were the pro-
ceedings of General Washington and of Congress, on that great
event?
526. What were the consequences of the surrender of the
uigitizea by Google
13^ QmsnoMs.
British vtmyl When was the tieaty of peace sLmed, by
which Great Britain acknowledged our Independence T
627. What was the state of the army at the close of the
warl
528. What extra grant did Congress make to the aimy, and
whyl
529. When did Congress grant half pay to the officers, and
why'?
530. Where was the army encamped after the capture of
Comwalhs 1
531. When did Congress Commute or exchange half-pay for
five years' full pay to' the Officers 1
5^. When and why was the army threatened with a com-
motion 1 .
533. What was Greneral Washington's conduct at that crisis 1
534. When, and how was the army dismissed 1 .
535. When, and where was there a mutiny of the soldiras?
536. When and ithy did Congress remove to Trenton 1
537. Where were great discoiAents excited by the grant of
five years pay to the officers 3
538. 539. What was done in Connecticut to oppose the extra
pay to the army 1
540. What measures were taken in Massachusetts %
541. When did General Washington send a circular to the
governors of the states 1
542. When was the army dbbanded and what was the
general's address to them 1
543. When, where and to whom did General Washington
resign his commission 1
544. What was the origin of the Society of the Cincinnati,
and what were its objects '?
545. What was the effect of the formation of the society 1
546. When did the Society of Cincinnati alter their constitu-
tion'?
547. When was the first confederation formed? Was it
carried into effect, and what was the consequence of its defects ?
548. What measure did Congress recommend to raise
money? Was it effectual ?
549. What was the efiiBct of issuing bills of credit 1
550. What was the effect of the depreciation of bills and
certificate!! given in payment 1
551. What was the state of trade after the warl
552. "^^at measures were taken by the states to supply the
want of money ?
553. What was the c«use of an inaoirrection in MasMcho-
settsl
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CONSTITOTION. 265
564. What wefe the first attempts to obtain a more e6kient
government ?
555. When, where and by whom was the present constitution
of the United States formed 1
556. How was the constitution ratified 1 When was the
ratification by eleven states, and hOw V^na the event received?
557. When was the coniittitution organised ? Who was the
first preodent ? Where and how was he inaugurated 1
CHAPTER XV.
OONSTtTUTION OP THE UNITED STATES.
b68. Different forms of Government, In Asia the
^vemments are all despotic ; whole nations being sub-
ject to the arbitrary "will of one man, ujftder the deno-
mination of emperor, sultan, king, nabob^ or other
title. In Europe^ some nations. are governed by the
absolute sway of emperors or kings ; some are sub-
ject to a body of nobles ; others are subjects of forms of
government of k mixed character, consisting of a king,
of nobles, and representatives of the people. When the
sole power of making laws is in the blinds of one per-
son, the government is called a monarchy, or an empire;
the chieiis called a monarch, emperor, or ai^tocrat; and
the government is arbitrary or despotic. When the
powers of government all centre in a body of nobles,
It is called an aristocracy, or oligarchy. The govern-
ment of England is a mixsd forrn^ consisting of a king,
lords, and commons^
559. Reptiblican Government, These United States
present the first example, in modem times, of a govern-
ment founded on its le^timate principles. By the laws
of nature^eason, and rdigion, all men are bom with equal
rights. Every person is equally entitled to the protec-
tion of his person, his lib«^, and his property $• and of
course is entitled to have a voice in forming the govern-
ment by which this protection is to be secured. In this
eountry, the people all enjoy these inestimable rights
and privileges; and the constitution of the United
States, formed by the dele^tes of the people, and ratified
by the people represented in conventions, guarantees to
23
J*^7V7V IV^
!^ BisTOBT or rut onirfiD states.
them the enjovment of their rights. This constitation
is truly rejmblican^ and forms a splendid era in tlMi
history of man.
• 560. Distribution of tlie powers of Government, In
the constitution of the United States, as in most of
those of the several states, the government is divided
into three hranches, a House of Representatives, a
Senate, and a President, or executive power. The
House of Representatives and the Senate form the
legislative power, or power of enacting laws. The
president is the chief magistrate, in whom is vested the
power of executing the laws ; that is, the power of en-
forcing them, or carrying them into eneCt. The reasons
why the legislative power is vested in two hranches or
houses, are, that there may he a more full discussion
of bills or proposed laws, for the purpose of ample de^
liberation, and a clear understanding of their nature
and tendency ; and also that dne house may check, if
necessary, any hasty or partial measures proposed by the
other. The two houses are called the Congress of the
United States,
\ 561. Article /. The House of Representatives is
composed of members chosen every second year bv the
people of the several states. The citizens who nave
the right of choosing, are called electors; and to be
electors, they must have the qualifications which entitle
citizens to vote for representatives in the several states ;
such as suitable age and chancter, and in some states,
Sroperty. A representative in Congress must be twenty- •
ve years of age, and have been seven years a citizen
of the United States ; and at his election, must be &
citizen of the state in which he is chosen. The reasons
are obvious. The age of twenty-five years is necessary
to prevent young men, not mature in judgment, fion^
being elected to one of the most important offices in
fovemment : 'and a man cannot represent a state, unless
e is an inhabitant.
562. Apportionment of Representatives, The nnm-
her of representatives m each state is according to the
number of its free persons, and three fifths of all other
persons or slaves, Indians not taxed being excluded.
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CONSTITDTXON. 207
For tbe purpose of ascertaining the number of persons,
a census or enumeration of inhabitants is taken every
ten years; and Congress by law determine the number
of inhabitants which entitles to a representative. This
number is enlarged every ten years, to prevent the
House of Representatives from being too numerous.
The house establishes rules of proceeding in conduct^
ing debates, and elects a speaker, who presides for
keeping order, and enforcing the rules.
563. Seriate, The Senate of the United States is
composed of two senators from each state, chosen by
its legislature for six years^ and each senator has one
TOte. The senators are divided into three classes, and
one class or third go out of office every two years, and
the vacancies are supplied by new appointments. A
senator must be thirty years of age and an inhabitant
of the state, and he must have been a citizen of the
United States nine years, at the time of his appoint-
ment. The vice president of the United States is
president of the Senate, and has no votCj except when
the votes of the Senate are equally divided. The
smallest states have two senators, and the largest have
no more ; the senators being considered as representa-
tives of the states^ rather than of the people.
504. Distinct powers <^the two houses. The House
of Representatives has the sole right of impeachment,
that is, the Ifight or power to accuse officers of the
government for maladministration, or for crimes, offen-
ses, or neglect of duty in their offices. The Senate has
the sole nght and power to try offenders impeached.
Each house is the judge of the elections, returns, and
qualifications of its own members; each determines
the rules of its proceedings, and punishes or expels its
own members for disorderly conduct. Senators and
representatives receive a compensation for their services
wnich is ascertained by law. They are privileged from
arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace,
during their attendance in the session, and in going to
and returning from the same. Officers of government
cannot hold a seat in either house.
. 565. Money Bills. All bills for raising a revenue
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968 HI8T0BT OF TQE dKrrfiD STATES*
most originate in the House of Representatires ; bat
the Senate may propose or concur with amendments
to such bills, as in other cases. This restriction m
regard to the raising of money, is founded on the prin-
ciple that the House of Representatives is strictly the
representation of the people, and is intended to prerent
undue appropriation of money, which might be made
ty a house less dependant on the people. In Ghreat
Britain the right of originating money-bills is solely in
the House of Commons; but for strong risasons, as
the House of Lords is a body whoUv mdependent of
the pec^le, by hereditary right or roval grant of title.
6m. Mode of passing bills. Bills, when presented
to either house, must be read three times. On the first
reading, no debate is had, but a yote is taken for a seoon4
reading ; and on this reading the bill, if opposed, is dis*
cussed, and then by vote is passed to a third reading, or
rejected. Three readings, and regularly on different
ilays, are required, and then, if not rejected, the bill
passes to be engrossed. It is then engrossed on parch-r
ment, and passed to be enacted. The bill is then pre^
sented to the President of the United States, whose
signature completes the act, and the bill becomes a law.
But if the President objects to it, he returns the bill to
the house in which it originated, with his objections i^
ivnicing; and the bill is reeonsidered. If on reconsiders*
tion, two thirds of the members are in flN^ur of it, it
becomes a layir ; if not, it dies.
567. Powers of Congress, The powers of Con-
gress are specified in the constitution. They extend
to the gei^eral concerns of the United States ; leaving
to the sev/eral states the right of making laws respect-
ing their own local interests. The Congress can lay
an4 jebllect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, pay the
debts, and provide for the defense and welfare of the
United States ; but all such duties must be uniform
throughout the United States. Congress can borrow
money, regulate commerce, coin money, establish post-
offiees and post roads, institute courts, aeclare war, raise
and support am^ies, provide a navy, organize the militia,
secure to authors and inventors the exclusive ri^ht to
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CONSTITUTION. 910
their writings and discoreries for a limited time, and
punish crimes or a violation of their laws.
568. Restrictions of power. Congress cannot pas«
any ex 'post facto law, that is, they cannot pass a law
to punisn a crime after it has been committed ; they
cannot lay a direct tax, unless in proportion to the cen-
sus or number of inhabitants ; they cannot lay any tax
or duty on exports, nor give any advantage to one state
over another m commercial regulations ; no money can
be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of an
appropriation by law ; no title of nobility can be grant-
ed, nor can any officer of the government accept any
present, emolument, office, or title, from any king, prince,
or foreign state. No state can enter into any treaty,
alliance, or confederation ; grant letters of ma roue and
reprisal, coin money, emit bills of credit, make any
thmg except gold and silver a tender in payment of
debts, or pass any law impairing the obligation of con-
;tracts ; nor can it lay any imposts or duties on exports
or imports, without the consent of Congress.
669. Article IL The executive power is vested iiji
a President, who,' with the Vice-President, is elected
for the term of four years. These officers are chosen
by electors appointed by the states in such manner as
the legislatures prescribe. The number of electors in
each state is equal to the joint number of senators and
representatives in that state. By an amendment to the
constitution, the electors meet on the same day, in their
respective states, and vote by ballot for President and
Vice-President, one of whom must not be an inhabit-
ant of the same state with themselves. They must
name in their ballots the person voted for as President,
and in distinct ballots, the person voted for as Vice-
President. They mate a certified list of all persons
voted for, and transmit the same to the President of the
Senate, who opens the certificates, in the presence of
both houses of Congress, and the votes are counted.
The person who has a majority of all the votes is
declared President ; or if no person has a majority, then
from the persons having the highest number of votes,
not exceeding three, the House of Representatives elect
23*
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470 HISTORY or TfiE L'NITUd StATfiS.
a President by ballot. Tn this case the votes are takeii
by slates, each state having one vote. If no person
has a majority of votes for Vice-President, then from
the two highe.^t on the list, the Senate elect one to be
Vice-President.
570. Qunltfications of the President, The Presi-'
dent must be a natural bom citizen of (he United
States, or a citizen at the time the constitution wg^
adopted : and no person is eligible to that office unfes^
he IS thirty years of age, and has been fourteen years a
resident of the United States. In case of the removal
of the President from office, or of his death^ resignation,
or inability to discharge tlie duties of the office, the
powers of the President devolve on the ViccTPresident.
The President receives a compensation, ascertained by-
law. He takes an oath to execute his office with fidelity,
and to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution, to
the best of his ability.
571. Powers ana duties of the President. The
President is commander-in-chief of the army and navy
of the United States, and of the militia of the states,
when called into actual service of the United States.
Vtrith the advice and consent of the Senate, he has
power to make treaties ; he non^ii^ates, and with the
advice and consent of the Senate he appoints embasr>
sadors and other public ministers, judges of the Su-
preme Court, and all other officers whose appointments
are not otherwise provided for by law. He fills vacan-
cies in offices, which happen during the recess of the
Senate, but tneir commissions expire at the end of the
next session. He has power to convene Congress on
esflraordinary occasions, and it is his dutv to give in-
formation to Congress of the state of tne Union, to
recommend measures to their consideration, and in
general to take care that the laws are faithfully executed.
572. Article III. Judiciary, The judicial power is
that which consists in courts of law appointed to try
and determine causes between individual persons and
corporations. The constitution vests this ppwer in
one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the
Congress shall ordain and establish. The judges of
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fcONSTITUTION. 2T1
Inese courts hold their offices during good behaviour.
Their powers extend to all cases in law and equity,
l^ising under the constitution and laws of the United
States, and to treaties made under their authority ; to
cases affecting embassadors, other public ministers and
consuls ; all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdic-
tion J to conti'oversies to which the United States are
a party ; to controversies between states, between a
l&tate and citizens of another state, between citizens of
different states, between citizens of the same state
claiming lands under grants of different states, and
"between a state or its citizens and foreign states, citi-
zens or subjects. Trials of all crimes, except in cases
of impeachment, must be by jury.
573. Crimes, and rights of citizens. Treason
against the United States consists, only in levymg war
against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving
them aid and comfort; Citizens of each state are enti-
tled to all privileges and immunities of citizens of the
several states. A person charged with a crime, fleeing
from justice, and found in another state, must, on de-
mand of the executive of the state from which he fled,
be delivered up to be returned to that state, which has
jurisdiction of the crime. Slaves escaping from their
masters into another state are to be delivered up on de-
mand of their masters.
Congress may admit new states into the union ; and
the United States guarantee to every state in the union,
:a republican form of government. The constitution
^nd laws of the United States, made in pursuance of it,
and all treaties made under the authority of the United
States, are the supreme law of the land. Congress
cannot make any law respecting the establishnient of
jeligion, or prohibit the free exercise of it ; nor can they
abridge the freedom of speech and of the press.
574. Advantages and evils of Monarchy. The ad-
vantages claimed for a government by a single person
are secrecv and promptness in decision, and energy in
action. A single man makes a law or decree without
obstacles or delays, from opposing wills or opinions,
and without liability to a disclosure of his designs.
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872 HI8T0RT or THE CKITED flTATM.
Hence in war monarchs have sometimes an adVazUaff^
over republics ; and in cases of extreme danger rejrab-
lics hare sometimes created a dictator with unlimited
powers for a time, to call into action the forces oF the*
state. This was the fact in Rome, and during the 'war
of the revolution Congress invested Gren. Washington
with absolute command. But the danger of monarchy
is, that the monarch will, as he always can, oppress his
subjects with arbitrary and unreasonaMe taxes, or viola-
tions of their rights. It has been found that few mo-
narchs have exercised a paternal care over their sub-
jects — Most of them have been tyrants, or have iraste(f
the revenue of their kingdoms in luxury and vice and war.
675. Advantages and evils of Aristocracy. When
the nobles of a state have the whole government in
their hands^ and have no dependence on the people for
the possession of their power, they are ofken disposed^
like monarchs, to oppress the people by taxes and unjuse
laws. In addition to this evil, their councils are often dis-
tracted with party spirit, by means of the jealousy, selfish-
ness, and ambition of the different members of the go-
vernment, by which such states are often kept in agitation^
and the public interest is sacrificed. To counterbalance
these evils, aristocracy n^ay embody much wisdom ; as
nobles may have the advantage of a good education.
576. Advantages and evUs of a Republic. The
great benefit of a republican form of government is^
that the people, being the source of all authority, elect
their own rulers, who, after a limited time, for which
they are elected, retutn to the condition of private citi-
zens. In this case the rulers and ruled have a common
interest. If the representatives of the people enact
unjust or oppressive laws, the people have a remedy,
in the power of electing different men for representa-
tives at a subsequent election, who may repeal such
laws. The evils of this form of government are, that
ambitious and unprincipled men, in their strife foroffice>
may and often do deceive and mislead the people, or
corrupt them by offers of money and offices. In this
case, the government often falls into the handi of
wicked and profligate men.
,y Google
cONSmtmoN. 27B
5T7. Success of the Constitution of the United Stages
As sooli a^ the constitution of the United States wa»
ratified, and organized, the Congress took efiectual mea-
sures to give it doe effect. They passed laws distribut-
ing the powers of the government into several depart-
ments. They established a department of state, to carry on
a correspondence with foreign powers, — a aepartment
of the treasury, to manage all the concerns of the re-
venue, — a department of war, to superintend the affairs
of the army, — and a department of the post-office, to con-
duct the concerns of the public mails. They afterwards es-
tablished the department of the navyr. At the head of each
department wasplaced a head or chi?ef oflScer. They alsa
passed a law for collecting revenue by duties or imposts
on foreign goods imported. They fanded the debt of th^
United States, by appropriatiiig^ money to pay the inte-
rest. They assumed a part oi the debts of the states^
contracted during the war of the revolution, and pron.
-vided for the payment of the interest. They establish-
ed courts for the decision of causes ; one in each state,
called a district court; and a supreme court y with juris-
diction over the United States. These measures re»
vived public credit, put in motion the enterprise and
Industry of our citizens, and gfave these states rank
;aiid honour among the powers of the earth. From that
time commenced the prosperity of the United States^
fprkieh,with little interruption, has continued to this dsy^
©78. Origin of Civil Liberty. Almo3t all the civil
liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the
|)riiieiple8 of the Christian religion. Men began to un-
derstand their natural rights, as soon as the reforma-
tion from popery beg^n to dawn in the sixteenth cen*
tury ; and civil liberty has been gradually advancing
ana improving, as genuine Christianity has prevailed.
By the principles of tj^ Christian religion we are not
to understand the decisions of ecclesiastical councils,
for these are the opinions of mere men ; nor are we to
suppose that religion to be any particular church estab-
lisned by law, with numerous dignitaries, living in
stately palaces, arrayed in gorgeous attire, and rioting
i^ (uzury 9i?d W^^^i^j squefzed from the scanty earn-
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274 nnrroRT or tbv uritcd itatbs.
ingt of the labourinzpoor ; nor is it a religion which
consists in a round of torms, and in pompous rites and
ceremofiies. Noj the religion which has introduced
civil libertjr, is the religion of Christ and his apostles,
which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence ; which
acknowledges in every person a brother^ or a sister, and
A citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity,
and to this we owe our free constitutions of govern-
ment.
679. Character of the Puritans. For the progrest
and enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, in mo-
dem times, the world is more indebted to the ruritans
in Great Britain and America, than to any other body
of men. or to any other cause. They were not with-
out their failings and errors. Emerging from the dark-
ness of despotism, they did not at once see the full
light of Christian liberty 5 their notions of civil and re-
lijg^ious rights were narrow and confined, and their prin-
ciples and behavior were too rigid. These were the
errors of the age. But they weye pious and devout;
they endeavored to model their conduct bv the princi-
ples of the Bible and by the example of Cnrist and hb
apostles. They avoided all crimes, vices, and corrupt-
ing amusements ; they read the scriptures with care,
observed the sabbath, and attended public and private
worship. They rejected all ostentatious forms and
rites 5 they were industrious in their callings, and plain
in their apparel. They rejected all distinctions among
men, which are not warranted by the scriptures, or
which are created by power or policy, to exalt one class
of men over another, in rights or property.
580. Institutions of the Puritans in America. The
Puritans who planted the first colonies in New England,
established institutions on republican principles. They
admitted no superiority in eccles^ticai orders, but form-
ed churches on the plan of the independence of each
church. They distributed the land amon^ all persons,
in free hold, by which every man, lord of kis own soil,
enjoyed independence of opinion and of rights. They
founded governments on the principle that the people
arf the sources of power; the representativti heing
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CONSTITUTION. 275
elected annually, and of course responsible to their
constituents. And especially they made eaijy provi^
sion for schools for diffusing Knowledge among all the
memhers of their communities, that the people might
learn their rights and their duties. Their liberal and
wise institutions, which were then novelties in the
world, have been the foundation of our republican
governments.
581. Effects of the principles and institutions of the
Puritans. The principles of the Puritans fortified
them to resist all invasions of their rights ; and pre-
pared them to vindicate their independence in the war
of the revolution. That Wat ended in the establish-
ment of the independence of the United Slates. The
manifestoes, or public addresses of the first American
Congress, and the act declariag independence, proclaim-
ed to all the world the principles of free governments.
These papers circulated extensively in foreign coun-
tries. The French officers who assisted in the defense of
American rights, becattie acquainted in this country
with the principles of our statesmen, and the blessings
of our free institutions ; and this circumstance was the
germ of a revolution in France. The constitution of
the United States is made the model of the new govern-
ments in South America 5 and it is not without its in-
fluence in Greece, and in Liberia in Africa. It is thus
that the principles of free government, borrowed from
the Puritans, have been conveyed to foreign countries,
and are gradually undermining arbitrary governments,
with all their oppressive institutions, civil and eccle-
siastical.
582. General description of the United States, The
territory of the United States, guaranteed to them by
the treaty of peace in 1783, extended from the Atlantic
to the Mississippi, and from Canada to Florida. Loui-
siana and Florida have since been added to it by pur-
chase j the former extending its limits westward of the
Mississippi, and the latter to the Gulf of Mexico. This
territory extends fvom forty-five degrees of north lati-
tude to twenty-five degrees : and from about sixty-five
dej^ree& of west longitude from London, to one hundred
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d76 HISTORY OF THE UMITBD 8TAT£d.
and twenty Jive degrees, or the shore of. the Paci^
Ocean. It is estimated to contain ttoo thousand Jour
hundrecT millions of square miles. For the purpose of
government, this territory, as far as it b sufficiently set-
ied bv white inhabitants, is divided into states^ whleh
are all united under one federal head ; but that pAit
which is unsettled, or partially occupied by white in-
habitants, is placed under officers,, with particular
powers.
583. Climate of the United States* With respect
to climate, the Atlantic states may be divided into three
regions. The first or northern region coinpirehends
that part of the territory lying north of the beginning
of the fortieth degree of north latitude, in w|iich there
is a predominance oi cold and severe frost in winter.
This region includes the ^tates of Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con-
necticut, New York, and a part of New Jersey anc(
Pennsylvanieu The second or midde re£^ion compre^
hends the territory from the fortieth to the tnirty-seventh
degree of latituae, in which the weather of winter is
very variable, and subject to Continual alternations ot
frost and rain. This region includes a part of New-
Jersey, Pennsylvania^ and the states of Delawar^^
Maryland, and Virginia. The third or southern re^ioh,
from the tnirty-seventh to the thirty-first degree of lati-
tude, and including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida^
has a predominance of mild Weather in winter, thoiign
it is not exempt from occasional frosts.
584. Terwperatwe of the Several Regions, The
United States are subject to the extremes of heat an J
cold. T he winters in the northern region usually com-
mence m December and end in February. The earth
is covered with snow, and the rivers with ice, froia
eight to twelve weeks. But in hard winters, the frost'
begins about the middle Or latter part of November,
and ends in March. In mild winters, there is no severe
frost of many days' continuance, and little snow, tn
the middle region, the frost is less steady, though ofteii
severe. In ordinary winters, the rivers are occasionally
obstructed with ice^ but not for a great length of time,
uigitizea by Google
CUMATE. 277
and snow is of short duration. In hard winters the
rivers in this region are covered with a bridge of ice
for six or eight weeks. In the southern region, the frost
of an ordinary winter is very inconsiderable, and snow
is scarcely seen. In hard winters frost and snow con-
tinue sometimes for several days and even weeks.
685. Number of severe Winters, Winters of the
utmost severity seldom exceed four or five in a hundred
years. Those which are less severe^ but which may
DC called cold winters, are one third, or at least a
fourth of the whole number. Very mild winters, in
which there is little frost and snow in the northern re-
gion, are nearly as rare as very hard winters. These
remarks are applicable to all parts of the territory of
the United States east of the mountains. On the west
of the mountains the weather is milder in the same
latitude, *ind storms of wind, rain, and snow, less fre-
quent and violent.
586. Temperature of the Summer heat. In all parts
of the United States the heat of summer is very great.
In the southern region the summer commences m April
or May, and ends in October or November. In the
middle and northern regions, the heat of summer be-
gins in May or June, and ends in September, or in the
northern part of the territory, in August. In the more
northerly parts of the United States^ frost is seen in
almost every month of the year. In general, the win-
ters in America are as cold in the fortieth degree of
latitude, as they are in Europe in the fiftieth.
687. Spring and Autumn. The spring of the year
is marked with very variable weather in every part of
the United States. Warm days succeeded by cold
nights, alternately thawing and freezing the surface of
the earth ; bleak westerly Winds, followed by warm
humid winds from the south, or^amp chilly winds
from the east, distinguish the months of March and
April — and freauently the first weeks in May are dis-
tinguished by almost constant easterly rains. Autumn
is a far more pleasant season. From the latter part of
September to the middle of November, sometimes
much later, the weather is temperate ana dry, and to
24
J*^7V7V l\^
278 HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES.
the blessings of abundant crops, is added a serene sky,
which enables the fanner to collect and secure the
fruits of the earth.
688. Proportion of Dry Weather. America is re-
markable for a great proportion of dry weather. About
two hundred and fifty da\^ in the year, on an average,
are nearly imclouded. The days which are mostly
cloudy, do not exceed seventy or eighty ; and those in
which rain or snow falls the whole day, are scarcely
half the number.
589. Winds. The winds most prevalent in the At-
lantic states lire from the westward — in winter they
are north-weSterly, and in summer south-westerlv.
These are dry winds, and especially the north-westerly
winds, which areaccoinpanied with a rapid evaporation,
and consequently in summer are cool and refreshing,
and in winter very cold. North winds are not very
frequent, but are always cool or cold. North-easterly
and easterly winds are frequent in all seasons except
the summer months, and are accompanied with a chill-
ing dampness, which occasions the tnost disagreeable
sensations. A south-east windj at least in the northern
and middle regions, seldom or never fails to produce
rain in twelve hours ; and often blows a tempest, but
is of short duration, seldom exceeding twelve hours.
Nor are the gales oi wind from the south-east on the
American coast of great extent—they usually begin
within a hundred miles of the coast, and seldom reach
a hundred miles into the interior country — often not
half the distance. A south wind is usually warm, and
often attended with rain.
6^. Sea Breezes. On all the coast of the United
States^ westward and southward of Cape Cod^ a cur-
rent of air from the ocean is cool and refreshing m sum-
mer. To the northward of that cape, the sea breezes
are attended with a fog, or a cool damp vapor, which
is chilling to the human body, and very disagreeable.
In spring, these breezes prevail on all the coast from
Cape Cod to Newfoundland ; and are often accompa-
nied with thick fogs, occasioned probably by a conden-
-•ion of the warm vapors from the gulf stream. These
uigitizea by Google
CLIMATE. 27d
fogs prevail till June or July, and are not moreunplea->
sant to the feelings, than troublesome and dangerous
to seamen. To the westward of Montauk Point, these
fogs are far less common.
691. Storms, The most durable gales of wind are
from the north-east. These, in spring and autumn, are
usually accompanied with rain, and in winter with
snow ; but a long continued dry north-east wind some-
times occurs, especially in summer. This wind occurs
but rarely in the summer months, in the northern and
middle regions of the United States. It sweeps the
Atlantic coast, but rarely penetrates beyond the moun-
tains westward. It is obserred, that a north-east storm
begins at the south-west, and is felt in the southern
parts of the United States^efore it is in the northern.
692. Summer Rains, The rains of summer are of
two kinds; durable rains frc>m the east or south, or
sudden and temporary showers. In some years the
summer rains are mostly from the south or south east,
attended with a humid state of atmosphere, extremely
relaxing to the human body. Such rains are not usually
accompanied with thunder. Sudden showers collect
in the west, in hot weather, or after two or three
days of extreme heat ; and usually between noon and
evening. A black cloud is speedily formed, and dri-
ven by violent wind frona the north-west or west, accom-
panied with livid flashes of lightning and tremendous
thunder, with torrents of rain or liaU. The duration
of these showers is from half an hour to three hours.
Sometimes these showers are attended with a hurricane
of wind, called a tornado, driving forward with 'a
whirling motion, twisting oiT the trunks of the firmest
trees, and levelling buildings, fences, and plants, in prO'
raiscuous destruction.
^93. Effects of these showers. The summer show-
ers, collecting over the mountainous parts of the coun-
try, and accompanied with a current of air from the cool
regions of the atmosphere, not only refresh vegetation
by a copious supply of water, but bring along a por-
tion of pure and cool air, which is highly salubrious
and invigorating to the human body, when almost ex-
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
S80 B18T0RY OF THE UNITED STATfifl.
hausted with extreme heat: and for a day or two after
the gust, the wind usually blows from the westward.
At the same time the coolness of the air is increased
and continued by the rapid evaporation which follows
a shower ; the heat of the earth combining with the
water, being carried off in an invisible form.
594. WecUher westward of the Mountain^. That
part of the United States wnich lies westward of the
hiffh lands, which divide the streams falling into the
Atlantic from those which fall into tlie lakes and the
Mississippi, has a more temperate climate than the
same latitudes on the Atlantic, and is less subject to
violent storms. It is remarkable also, that show^ers
sometimes collect more suddenly over that, part of the
^country — the rain does not begin gradually, but almost
instantly pours down a torrent of water — and all at
once it ceases, as in the twinkling of an eye. Snow
falls frequently and without wind. Thunder also is
less frequent in some parts of the int^rior country, than
it is eastward of the mountains.
595. Climate in regard to Health. The northern ^
Atlantic region of the United States, being mostly dry,
hilly land, is favored with a pure air and good water,
and distinguished by the salubrity of its climate. In a
very few places, low and marshy lands are found to
produce autumnal diseases. The mountainous parts of
the middle and southern regions, are, as in all parts
of the globe, healthy. From the Hudson southward,
the fiat lands along the Atlantic and by the sides of
rivers, are infested with autumnal fevers. In the north-
ern region, one half of the children bom live to be
nineteen years old; one seventh live to the age of
seventy ; and one thirteenth to the age of eighty. The
annual deaths amount to one in seventy, or seventy-five,
of all the inhabitants living.
596. Diseases of the United States, The ordinary
diseases of the United States are the same as those
which invade mankind in all similar climates. The
usual epidemics are hooping cough, measles, influenza,
scarlet fever, with some milder eruptive diseases. These
diseases are periodical, though the periods are not exacts
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
ly unifonn. The autumnal diseases are chiefly djtttk"
tery and hilious fevers of all grades^ from slight mter-
mittents to the malignant fever, which is denominated
pestilence. The dysentery appears, in scattered cases
every year ; hut in some autumns becomes epidemic
with great mortality. It however never invades large
cities with such general mortality, as it does particular
parts of the country. The malignant bilious fever oc-
curs occasionally, But chiefly in large towns on the sea
coast, or on rivers, or near lakes and stagnant water.
697. Chronic Diseases, In the northern region of
the United States, and especially on the sea shore, the
consumption is the most general and fatal chronic com-
plaint ; carrying off in some places, a fifth of the inha?
bitants. In the middle region it is prevalent, but in a
less degree ; and in the southern^ is still less destructive.
Rheumatic complaints, gout, and hypochondriac affec-
tions are common. In the country west of the moun-
tains, between the Ohio and the lakes, the goiter, of
swelling upon the throat, is very prevalent among the
yrhites, but not among the natives.
QUESTIONS.
558. What are the diflerent forms of government *?
^9. Which is the first constitution formed on the true prin-
ciples of a republic 1
560. How are the powers of government distributed in th©
constitutions of the states and United States 1
561. How is the House of Representatives formed, in the
constitution of the United States 1
562. What are the ^uali/ications of electors 1
563. How is the representation apportioned among the states 1
How is the Senate of the United States composed!
564. What are the distinct powers of the two houses of
Congress ?
6ot. Which house must originate money bills and why 1
566. How are bills for laws enacted 1
567. What are the powers of Congress 1
568. What limitations or restrictions are imposed on the
powers of Congress 1
569. In whom is the executive power vested 1 How are the
^President and Vice-President elected 1
570. What are the qnatifications fbr the presidencj t
uigitizea by Google
fi UISTOST or TBI mtlTBO STATES.
571. What are the powen and dutiei of the PrMident 7
079. Wlialuthejiidkialpowermgoferiiment,aiid how^asit
■lad hythe oonatitiitkm of the UnUed States 1
573. What it treaaon bj the oonatitiition 1 What ]
la thare far aecariag criminala flaaiiifl from juatice 1 Uow^ are
new atatea adtnittm into the UnioaT What proviaon im thane
tat toleration 1
574. What aie the adTantages and what the evils of
monarchy?
575. What are ^ advanta^^ and evila of aristocracy 7
576. What are the adrantagea and eriJa of republican g o vern-
■lanti
577. What weie the firat meaaoroa of Congreas and what
■Qc c eaa haa attended our govemmentl
57B. What haa been t& origin of civil Uberty 1
579. What waa the character of the puritana, and what their
influence in introducinj^ republican forms of government ?
580. What were the institutiqna of the puritans which were
the foundations of our republican government?
561. What have been the effecto of the New England instt-
tutioBs, and what extensive efifects may yet be expected from
themi
563. What M the extent of the territory of the United States 7
How many square mifes is it estimated to contain 7
563. Wliat are the climates of the United States?
584. What is tKe temperature of the several regions or sec-
tions of the United States?
565. What popoition of winters are severe?
586. What is the temperature of summer?
567. What is the weather in n>ring and autumn?
568. What is tiie proportion ordbry weather?
569. What are the prevailing winds in the United States?
590. What are the sea breezes?
591. What are the usual winds in storms ?
693. What are the prevailing raina ?
593. What is the effect of summer showers?
594. What is the weather west of the mountains?
595. What b the climate in regard to health?
596, 597. What are the moat usual diaeaaee of the United
8t«kaa1
CHAPTER XVI.
VBOBTABLB PRODUCTIONS.
506. Native Treet of the United States. In the
Twriety, 4ize and beauty of its forest trees, no country
ly VJ»^7\^VI\^
▼£Q£TABLC PRODUCTIONfli ^289
can exceed the United States. The kinds of treM
found in erery part of our country are, oak, pine,
maple, beech, ash, spruce, fir, hemlock, mckcnry. elm,
chesnut, willow, poplar, cedar, locust, sassafras, laurel,
bhrch, cherry, bass-wood, butternut, hornbeam, bay. but-
ton-wood, eld«r, dog-wood. Of several of these Kinds
there are many varieties.
599. Trees peculiar to particular regions. The
black-walnut is indigenous, in the country southward
of the Hudson, and not eastward; but when trans-
planted, it grows well in New England. The persim-
mon, chincopin, catalpa, papaw, plane-tree, magnolia,
aloe, cypress, paccan, pimento, and some others, are
found solel]^ or chiefly in the middle, southern and
western regions of the United States. The live oak,
the best timber for ships, is a native of the^ southern
regions, chiefly of the islands on the coast of South
Carolina and Georgia, and of the Mississippi territory
and in Florida.
600. Shrubs and wild Fruit Trees. The crab-apple
IS found in all parts of the United States, and in the
southern and middle regions cider is made of its fruit.
Most parts of this country abound with wild cherries,
currants, grapes, strawberries, huckleberries, black-
berries, dewberries, raspberries, barberries, mulberries,
bayberries, juniper berries, Alberts, hazlenuts, bilberries,
plums, gooseberries, sumac, honeysuckle, myrtle, cran-
berries. The latter furnishes our tables with one of the
richest sauces.
601. Foreign Trees and Fruits cuhivaied in America,
Most of the fruit trees cultivated on the eastern conti-
nent, thrive well in the United States. Among these
are apples, peaches, pears, quinces, cherries, plums,
apricots, nectarines, gooseberries, raspberries, melons,
oranges, lemons, fi^s, pome^nates, olives, and almonds.
Apples thrive best m the middle and northern regions-^
peaches and melons in the southern. The peach is
found in a good degree of perfection as far north as
Boston, but farther northward, degenerates, and is cul-
tivated with difficulty. Oranges, lemons, pom^ranates,
almonds, figs, and olives, grow as far north as Virginia,
uigitizea by Google
S8A HiBToat or the ojcited atates.
but m subjeet to be killed by the frosts of winter. — In
South Carolina and Georgia, they are cultiraled witii
success.
602. Garden VegetaUea, Every species of vege-
table cultivated for the use of the table in the old
world, thrives well in America. Of these ive have
peas, beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, spin age, celery,
lettuce, asparagus, tumeps, onions, beets, radisnes, car-
rots, parsneps, cucumbers, and a variety of other kinds,
used in cookery and for medicinal purposes. The sug^ar
cane has been introduced into Louisiana and Georgia,
AQd is cultivated with success, affording sugar of the
bcstqualiCy.
OOo. Plantf indigenous in America, Maiz, potatoes,
fobacco, pumpkins, squashes, hops and ginseng, are
native productions of America. Of these the three first
are of the most use. Maiz, commonly called Indian
com, is one of the most extensively useful grains
known in the world ; as it thrives through a range of
nearly one hundred degrees of latitude, or fifty degrees
on each side of the equator, and is one of the most
nourishing articles of food for man and beast. In the
southeni parts qf the United States this plant grows to
the bight of twelve or fourteen feet, the ear springs
from the twelfth or thirteenth joint, far above the reach
i>f a man standing on the ground. — In the middle parts
of the United gtates, the species cultivated grow to the
hight of eight or ten feet, and the ears spring from the
fifth, sixth, or seventh joint. — In the more northern parts
^d in Canada, a species of four or five feet growth,
with ears shooting from the second and third joints,' is
the only one whiph the shortness of the summer heat,
l^ill permit to come to maturity, Wliat an admirable
proof lis this of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator,
thus to fit the several species of uiis all-important grain,
to the several climates of the globe !
604. Potatoe, The discovery of America added this
invaluable root to the esculent vegetables of the eastern
continent. It was found and carried to Europe by some
of the adventurers under Sir Walter Raleigh. The ease
^ith which it is cultivated, t}ie gr^t quantity of food
,y Google
YG6ETABLE PRODUCTIONS. 285
'which it furnishes from a small portion of land, the
little injury that its cultivation does to the soil, and its
nourishing qualities, which render it a substitute for
bread, and the ease and little expense of dressing it for
the table, render it one of the most useful plants, espe-
cially to the poor ; and its cultivation has, in no small
degree, diminished the chances of famine which was
fornaerly so frequent in Europe.
605. Tobacco, When tobacco was first introduced
into England, King James issued a proclamation against
the use of so offensiye a plant. But the prejudices
a^inst it gradually subsided, and it now forms a con-
siderable article of consumption in all parts of the world.
It thrives well in all parts of the United States. — In the
northern region it is cultivated chiefly for domestic use,
but in the middle states, chiefly in Maryland and Vir-
ginia, it constitutes an important article of export.
606. Kinds of Grain, not indigenous. Wneat, rye,
barley, oats, buckwheat, millet and rice, have been in-
troduced into the United States. Of these, wheat is the
most generally cultivated, and is esteemed the finest
grain. On suitable soils, which are the dry and gravelly,
or the rich mold of new lands, it thrives in every part
of the United States, except on the Atlantic shore of
the eastern states. Even in that part of tlic cuutjLry, II
was cultivated with success for thirty or forty years
after our ancestors settled in America, but it now fails.
Rice is cultivated only in the Carolinas niiil Geotmg^
where it is raised in great quantities for fxporianE^
The other species of grain grow well in any p^rt of^ie
United States, and since the failure of wheat in ^
eastern states, rye is much used for bread, eiilier alfit^^
or mixed with maiz, or, in some parts, wEii:^re wheat
will grow, with a small portion of wheat, which mix-
ture is called meslin.
697. Plants cultivated for Clothing. Hemp and flax
grow well in all parts of the United States, where the
soil is sufficiently rich and suitable. Flax is raised for
clothiug, in greater or less quantities, and manufactured
into coarse cloth. The seed is exported to Ireland, or
burnishes oil for paints. Hemp for cordage may be
ly v.J\.7\^vi\^
280 HI6T0RT or THfi UNITED STATES.
cultivated generally, but its culture is confined to a few
places. Cotton grows well in the southern and -westein
parts of the United States, and is cultivated in great
quantities, as well for domestic manufacture as for
exportation. Indigo thrives well in the Carolinas and
Greorgia, as well as io Louisiana and Florida, and was
formerly a considerable article of export ; but the high
price of cotton has lately occasioned the culture of
indigo to be neglected.
608. Silk and Vines. Silk may be cultivated in all
parts of the United States. The attempts made in
New England to introduce the culture, demonstrate that
the climate and soil are favorable, and that nothing but
the high price of labor prevents an attention to this
pbject. vines are the spontaneous production of all
parts of this country, and some species of native grapes
are of an excellent quality. The species of foreign
grap|es, which yield some of the best wines in Europe,
are introduced, and thrive well in the middle and even
in some part oi the northern region of the United States;
but the making of wine is yet confined to a few places.
QUESTIONS.
598. What are the native trees of the United States 1
§0Bl y es are peculiar to particular regioup 1
fWT. \\ .1 I! the shrubs and fruit trees?
; Ui f . ^^' 1 1 1 ( li '[leign trees and fruits are cultivated 1
ili^y \\ lilt jiro the garden vegetables'?
t'liXi W^va I fonts are indigenous or native ?
"IL Wlio Til fried the potatoe to Europe 1 What are it^
^ir ftdvniiT.Lrep?
, How WiiA tobacco treated at first ?
^Jmt spurts of grain were introduced from Europe 1
*'mt DL-inta are cultivated for clothing f
I silk and vines be cultivated, and where 1
CHAPTER XVII.
ANIMALS OF THE UNITEO STATES.
609. Native Animals. The following quadrupeds
^f natives of the United States, the bufialo, moose,
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
AI^IMALS.
fi87
elk, bear, deer, wolf, wild cat or lynx, panther, cata-
mount, wolverin. fox, beaver, otter, martin, raccoon,
hare, rabbit, rauslcrat or musquash, weasel, squirrel of
several kinds, one kind of rat, opossum, skunk, minkj
"woodchuk, ermine, seal, mole, field mouse, porcupine.
Many of these animals, fitted to live only in the forest,
retire westward as cultivation proceeds in that direction,
and are no longer seen near the Atlantic. On the Wall-»
kill in the state of New-York ; near the salt-licks ill
Kentucky ; .and in other parts of America, have been
found the bones of some huge animal now extinct. It
is supposed by some to have been of the elephant spe-
cies, and has obtained the appellation oi Marrfinoth, or
Mastodon. A skeleton of this animal, nearly complete,
may be seen in the Museum at Philadelphia. Its size
is that of the largest species of elephant, and a tall mstn
may walk upright under its belly. This beast must
have fed by means of a proboscis, 'as the neck is not
long enough to reach the earth, when standing ; but the
form of the teeth, and jaws, and especially the spiral
form and position of its tusks, make it certain that the
animal was difierent from any which is now known to
exist.
SKELETON OF THE MAMMOTH.
S88 mSTOftT OF THE UKITED STATES.
610. Domestic Animals. The animals kept by man
for use, are derived from such as were imported : such
as horses, cattle of all kinds, sheep, asses, goats, dogs,
cats, swine. All these thrive well m the United States.
The mountainous districts of the southern states, and
idl parts^ the northern furnish oxen and cows of the
largestmd best kind. Elegant horses of English breed
are raised chiefly in the middle and southern states, and
a race of Dutch horses, very large and excellent for draft
in Pennsylvania. In New England and Canada the
horses are smaller but very hardy and serviceable.
611. Wild Fotoh. The wild fowls of the United
States are too numerous to be specified. Some of the
most remarkable are, the eagle, falcon, hawks of various
sorts, herons, owls, swans, crows, turkies, geese, ducks
of many kinds, pelicans, brants, pigeons, partridges,
quails, woodcocks, woodpeckers cff various sorts, swal-
lows, martins, buzzards, blackbirds, robins, larks, blue
birds, wrens, sparrows, gulls, plovers, snipes, cranes and
storks. Domestic Fowls. The domestic fowls are of
foreign origin, as the goose, duck, pigeons, and dunghill
fowls. They thrive m all parts of this country. The
wild goose and turkey may be tamed, but the turkey,
which g^ows to the weight of thirty pounds or more
when wild, degenerates by domestication.
612L Birds of passage. Some species of birds leave
the cold regions in autumn, and visit the more southern
climes. Wild geese and pigeons, and some kinds of
ducks, are of this sort. Many kinds of fowls are so
baidy as to remain, and fly about in the severity of I
ordinary winters, without danger, as the crow, the part-
ridge, ^uail and snowbird. But in very hard winters,
these birds are known to perish in great numbers. The |
swallow, about the last week in August is said to seek
shelter in ponds, rivers and marshes, and remain torpid
till spring. But most kinds of birds retreat to the cavi-
ties of hollow trees and like places.
613. Fishes. The sea and rivers in the United
States abound with an immense varietv of fi^, many
of them of the most useful kind. Whales are often
camght near the coast. Codfish are taken on the shores
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
ANIMU.S. 289
of the northern region, and on the banks of Newfound^
land, in such abundance as to form a lar^re article of
our exports. Halibut, haddock, mullet, whiting, plaice,
mackarelj bass, tetaug or blackfish, sheepshead, and a
great variety or small fish, fill our markets at most sea-
sons of the year. Alewives are caught in vast numbers
for foreign markets, and menhaden or white fish^ for
manuring land ; and our rivers abound with sturgeon.
614. Shad and Salmon, In April and May, the
rivers are stocked with shad in immense numbers, and
furnish the inhabitants with no small part of their food.
The salmon, in the same months, frequent the rivers
in Maine. But that fish is not found in rivers which
discharge into the Atlantic westward of the Connecticut,
and since the erection of dams for canals they have de^
serted the Connectidut: The small streams abound
with trout, roach, perch and eels, and the lakes, with
their tributary streams, are well supplied with excellent
fish, especially with the pike and salmon trout of a
lai^e size.
615. Sliell Fish. Oysters of the best kinds cover
the shores of the United States. Lobsters of the largest
kind abound in many places. Crabs, shrimps, musclds,
and clams of various species are found in o\ki harbors
and creeks ; and we are occasionally favored with turtle
from the more southern climes. No country can boast
of a richer profusion of food, constantly furnished from
the hills, the forest, and the bosom of the deep !
Amphibious animals. Our swamps and ponds abound
witn frogs, one species of which, called a bullfrog, is
very large. The tortoise or turtle is common to all
parts of America. Animals of the lizard kind are nu-
merous ; and t!ie alligator or crocodile, the largest of
that species, is found in the rivers of the southern
states.
616. Serpents, The principal species of these ani-
mals are the rattle snake, the black snake of several
kinds, the viper, the adder of several sorts, one of which
is amphibious, and another frequents houses, the green
kind striped snakes. The rattle snake has a fatal poison
in a bag, at the root of his large teeth, which when b«
25
■a Dy >^J\^V7Vl\^
200 filSTORT OF THE UNITED STATES.
bites is conveyed by a small opening through the tfc^th,
to the object bitten. But this snake is slow in his
movement, and usually gives notice of his presence bj
a buzzing noise made with the rattles at the end of his
tail. He lives among the rocks, and in summer descends
into the meadows. It is remarkable that the lands
which are covered with beach and maple trees, and
contain no rocky precipices, are free from all larg«
venomous serpents.
617. Small reptiles and insects. The United States,
in common with all warm and temperate climates,
abound with small animals of the reptile and insect
kinds. Few of them however are venomous ; the
honey bee is very useful, and in the mountains and
hilly parts of the country, none of them are vexatious.
Near swamps and marshes, the musketoes, and in some
places, gnats, are extremely troublesome. In the flat
lands in the CaroUnas and Georgia, it is necessary for
people to defend themselves at night against the muske-
toes by surrounding their beds with gauze curtains or
pavilions.
618. Locust and the grasshopper. Locusts appear
in vast numb^s, at particular times, and are supposed
to be periodical ; but in the United States they do little
injury. Grasshoppers are seen every summer; but are
harmless, except in very dry seasons, when they multi-
ply to an astonishing degree, and devour the grass,
com and other useful vegetables.
619. Canker worm. In the northern and middle
6tate8, canker worms appear at certain times, in such
numbers as to injure the apple tree. Their appearance
seems to be periodical. They are most destructive to
trees on light^ dry land; and seldom invade trees which
stand on a stiff clay, or moist land. They are produced
from an egg deposited on the trees by a female, which
comes from the earth and ascends the trees in spring as
soon as the frost is dissolved* To prevent their ascenL
it is usual to encircle the trees with tar, and this, if
applied to a wisp or band of tow. around the trees, will
not injure them. These worms reed till June, stripping
the trees of their foliage; then suddenly disappear.
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ANIMALS. 201
They generally appear for two, three or four years in
succession.
620. Other noxious insects. CaterpiUars, of Tarioua
species, appear, at times, in such numbers, as to be very
destructive to fruit trees, and some forest trees. The
rose bug and the slug also, in particular seasons, do
great injury. A white worm or grub, in some parts of
the country devours the roots of the grass, and gives to
the rich meadow and pasture the appearance of a barren
heath. A black worm occasionally invades the grass
and corn in May and June, and in such myriads as to
lay waste the fields ; and aa insect has lately attacked
the wheat. But although these and many other insects
ravage at times particular places, or particular sorts of
vegetation, yet our crops aire usually rich and abundant.
621. Minerals, Gold is found in abundance in North
Carolina, and in the Cherokee country. Iron is found
in places too numerous to be here particularized. Some
parts of Missouri, and of Indiana, abound with inex-
naustible treasures of lead. Lime-stone is abundant in
various places, as are sand-stone and ffranite of a beau-
tiful texture. Slate for buildings is furnished from a
quarry on the bank of the Hudson above Fishkill, and
from another in Guilford in Vermont, is furnished in
abundance. Bituminous coal is found in Virginia,
Ohio, and Kentucky, in great quantities ; and the vast
beds of anthracite on the Susquehannah, in Pennsyl-
vania, furnish inexhaustible supplies of fuel. Mineral
springs are numerous, in various places. Those which
are most frequented are at Saratoga and Ballston. in
the state of New York. Salt springs are found in
many places ;- and those in the county of Onondaga in
the state of New York supply an abundance pf salt for
the western counties and for Ohio.
622. Population, The original settlers of Virginia
and New England, were almost all natives of England;
those of New* York were natives of Holland and other
parts of the Netherlands ; a body of Swedes planted the
first colony on the Delaware, where their descendants
are still found, though few of them unmixed with the
progeny of other settlers. Maryland was originally
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peqilsd by emigrants from Ireland ; the Carolinas and
Georgia, oy emigrants from England, Scotland and
Germany; and Pennsylvania from England, Ireland
and Germany. To these original settlers ^re to be
added the Africans, who were miported for the purpose
of cultivating the plantations of the southern settlers
and for domestic servants. The population of the
northern states, doubles in less than twenty-five years,
by natural means. But this increase is considerably-
accelerated by migrations fVom Europe.
023. Persons and cJiaracter of the inhabitants of
the Northern States. The inhabitants of the northern
states are generally tall, bony and muscular ; and less
corpulent than their English ancestors. They are re-
markable for their industry, invention and perseverance.
They make the most diligent farmers and mechanics ;
and the most active, bold and hardy seamen on earth.
They are distinguished for their habits of subordiDation
to parental and civil authority, which render them
peficeable, obliging and hospitable : but educated in
perfect freedom, and with a strong sense of personal
independence, tney spurn at every assumption of supe-
riority, and treat with contempt and detestation, any
man who is overbearing in his manners. The vices
of drunkenness, tippliog, gambling, trickishness in mu-
tual dealings, profanitv and the like, are found among^
the more corrupt members of the community. But the
great body of the people, who are freeholders, with
estates in fee which furnish them with means of sub-
sistence, maintain the character of good sense, discern-
ment and pure morals ; living in the constant attend-
wace upon relij^ious worship, and adorning their profes-
sion as Christians, by a correspondent practice.
QUESTIONS.
609. What are the native animals of AmerieaA What bones
of extinct animals have been found?
610. What are the domestic animals 1 . ' 7
611. What are the wild fowls 1 ^ ^ J
612. What birds of passage are there 1 '
613. What are the nahes on our coast 1
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ADVICE TO THE YOUNO. S&S
614. When do shad and salnion enter the riTerl When did
the salmon desert the Connecticut 1
615. What shell fish have we 1
616. What are the serpents in the United States t
617. What are the small reptiles and insects 1
618. What injury is done by the locust and grasshopper 1
619. What iniury is done by the canker worms 1
690. What other noxious insects sometimes appear 1
621. What minerals are found in the United States 1
622. From what nations are the people of the United States
descended 1
623. What is the general character of the inhabitants of the
northern states 1
CHAPTER XVIII.
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG.
1. My young friends, the first years of your life are
to be employed in learning those things which are to
make you good citizens, useful members of society, and
candicfates for a happy state in another world. Among
the first things you are to learn, are your duties to your
parents. These duties are commanded by God, and
^e necessary to your happiness in this life. The com-
mands of God are, "Honor thy father and thy mo-
ther." — " Children, obey your parents in all thines."
These commands are binding on all children; they
cannot be neglected without sin. Whatever God has
commanded us to do, we must perform, without calling
in question the propriety of the command.
2. But the reasonableness of this command to obey
]%arents is clear and easily understood by children, even
when (juite young. Parents are the natural guardians
of their childrei^, It is their duty to feed, clothe, pro-
tect, and educate them; and for these purposes it is
proper and necessary that parents should have autho-
rity to direct their actions. Parents therefore are
bound by duty and by^ right to govern their children ;
but the exercise of this right is to be regulated by af-
fection. Parents have implanted in them a tender
love for their ofispring, which induces them to exer-
cise aathority over them with kindness.
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3. It is proper that parents should be intnisted with
the instruction of children, because children have every
thing to learn, and parents are older, and have sained
a knowledge of what their children want to niow.
Parents have learned what is ri^ht, and what is
wrong; what is duty, and what is sm ; what is useful,
and what is hurtful to children and to men. And as
children pass the first years of their life with their
parents, tney' may be continually learning from their
parents what is necessary or useful in the concerns of life.
4. It is not only proper that children should obey
their parents, but tneir ooedience should be prompt and
cheerful, A slow, reluctant obedience, and that which
is accompanied with murmurings, is not acceptable to
parents, nor to God. A sense of duty should make a
child free and ready to comply with a parent's cona-
mand; and this will always be the case where the
child entertains a due respect for his parents. Love
and respect render obedieiice easy and cheerful, and a
willing obedience increases the confidence of parents
in their children, and strengthens their attachment to
them. But a cold and unwilling obedience, with a
murmuring disposition, alienates afl*ectioh, and inclines
the parent to rigor and severity in the exercise of his
authority.
6. Hence it is a primary duty of children, and as
much their interest as it is their duty, to " Honor their
father and their mother." This honor not only for-
bids the child to disobey his pflrents, but it forbids all
rudeness and ill manners towards them. Children
should manifest their respect for their parents in all
their actions. They should be modest and respectful
in their company, never interrupting them in conver-
sation, nor DolcUy contradicting them: they should
address them as superiors, and ytelJ to Ih^ir opinions
and admonitions. This subordination of cbiMren to
their parents, is the foundation of pence m families ;
contributes to foster those kindly dispositbns, both in
parents and children, which are the sources of dom^-
|ic happiness, and which extend iheit influeace to all
jfocjal relations in subsequent periods of life.
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ADVICE TO THE YO0NO. 205
6. Among the first and most important truths which
you are to learn, are those which relate to God and
religion. As soon as your minds become capable of
reasoning, or excited by curiosity to know the causes
of things, you will naturally inquire who made the
world, who made you, and why were you made ? You
"will understand, by a moment's thought, that the
things around you cannot have made themselves. You
will be convinced that a stone or a mass of earth can-
not have made itself, as it has no power in itself to act
or move ; it must then have had a creator^ some being
that had power to act or move, and to brmg the stone
*into existence.
7. You observe that plants and trees grow, but they
do pot grow in winter, when it is cold ; some degree
of beat is necessary to their growth. You conclude
then that wood and vegetable matter in itself has not
the power of growth or increase. You see various
animals, as dogs, and horses, but you know that they
cannot create theniselves ; the first animal of every
kind must then hnVe had a creator, distinct from the
aninial himself. You see houses, and barns, and ships,
but you know that they did not make themselves ; you
know they are made by men. You know also that
you did not create yourselves ; you began to exist at a
time which you cannot remember, and in a manner of
which you have no knowledge.
8. From such familiar observations and reflections,
children may be convinced, with absolute certainty,
that there must be a being who has been the creatpr
of all the things which, they see. Now when you
think that of all the substances about you, not one can
have been its own creator, and when yo^ see the vast
multitude of tliin!;.s, their variety, their size, their
curious forms and fitructures, you will at once con-
clude that the Being who could make such things must
possess immense powpr, altogether superior to the
power of any bein^ that you see on the earth. You
will then be led lo inquire who is this Being, and
where is he.
&* Here BOt only children, but the wisest philosq-
-^ - f ^ m
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phert are brought to a stand. We are compelled to
belleye that there is a Being of vast and imlimLted
power, who has created whatever we see; but ivho he
IS, or where he is, we cannot know by our own obser-
vation or reason. As we cannot see this Bein^ we
cannot, by the help of reason, know any thing of his
manner of existence, or of his power, except what we
learn from his works, or from revelation. If we had
been left to gather all our knowledge of the creator
from his works, our knowledge of him must have been
rery imperfect. 3ut the creator has no4 left mankind
in Ignorance on this subject He has graciously re-
vealed his character to man ; and his revelations are
recorded in a book which, by way of eminence, is call-
ed the Bible,
10. From the Bible we learn that God is a Spirit /
hence we cannot see him. Spirit is not visible to hu-
man eyes. Yet we need not wonder that a substance
which is invisible should possess amazing power. We
cannot see the air or wind 5 yet we know by observa-
tion, that this fine, subtil fluid, is a substance that sup-
ports our life, and when in rapid motion, it has im-
mense force. We conclude, then, that a Being, consist-
ing of pure spirit, may possess all the power necessary
to the tormation of the sun, moon, and stars, and every
thiiiff that we can see or feel. This great Being, in
our language, is called God. He is a spirit that ex-
tends through the universe.
11. The scriptures inform us that Grod is not only
all-powerful, but all-wise : and his wisdom is display-
ed in the admirable structure of whatever he has made;
in the adaptation of ever)^ thing to its proper uses ; in
the exact order and beautiful arrangement and harmo-
ny of all parts of creation.
The scriptures inform us also that God is a benevo-
lent Being. " God is love," and we have abundant
evidence of this truth in the works of creation. God
has not only made men and animals to inhabit the
earthy but he has furnished the earth with every thing
that 18 necessary for their support and welfare^ The
earth is stocked with plants, which are food ^r aui-
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ADVICE TO THE YOUNO. 29?
mals of various kiads, as well as for man; and plants
and animals furnish man with food and clothing and
shelter from the inclemency of the weather. The sea
and rivers and lakes are also stocked with animals that
supply food and other conveniences for man. The
earth contains inexhaustible stores for supplying the
wants and desires of living creatures.
12. We learn also from the Bible that Grod is a holy
Being; that is, he is perfectly free from any sinful
attributes or dispositions. If God was a wicked or
malevolent Being, he would have contrived and form-
ed every thing on earth to make his creatures misera-
ble. Instead of this, we know from observation as
well as experience, he has made every thing for their
conifort and happiness. Having learned from the
scriptures' ^nd from the works of creation, the charac-
ter of God, and that he is your creator ; the next in-
quiry is, in what relation do you stand to your make^,
and what is his will respecting your conduct.
13. The first and most important point to be decided
in your minds is that God is your Supreme or Soven
reign Ruler. On this point, there can be no room for
doubt ; for nothing can be more evident than that the
Being who creates another, has a perfect, indisputable
right to govern him. Grod has then a complete right
to direct all the actions of the beings he has made.
To the lower animals God has given certain propensi-
ties, called instincts, which le^d them to the means of
their own subsistence and safety.
14. Man is a being of a higher order; he is furnish-
ed with understanding or intellect, and with powers of
reason, by which he is able to understand what Gtod
requires of him, and to judge of what is riffht and
wrong. These faculties are the attributes of the soul^
or spiritual part of man, which constitutes him a moral
being, and exalts him tg ^> rank in creation much supe-
rior to that of any other creature on earth.
15. Being satisfied that God is your creator and
rightful governor, the next inquiry is, what is his will
concerning you; for what purpose did he make you
;;nd endow you with reason? A wise beiog woul4
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■ot have made you without a wise purpose. It is
tery certain then that God requires you to perform
some duties, and fill some useful station among other
beings.
16. The next inquiry then is, what you are to do
and what you are to forbear, in order to act the part
which your maker has assigned to you in the i^orkl.
This you cannot know with certainty without the help
of revelation. But here you are not left without the
means of knowledge ; for God has revealed his will,
and has given commands for thie regulation of your
eonduct.
17. The Bible contains the commands of God ; that
book is full of rules to direct your conduct on earth ;
and from that book you may obtain all you want to
know, respecting your relation to God, and to your
fellow men, and respecting the duties which these re-
lations require you to pemrm. Your duties are com-
prised in two classes ; one including such as are to be
performed directly to God himself; the other, those
which are to be performed directly to your fellow men.
18. The first and great command is, to love the
Lord your God with all the heart and soul and mind
and strength. This supreme love to God is the first,
the great, the indispensable duty of every rational be-
ing. Without this no person can yield acceptable
obedience to his maker. The reasonableness of this
command is obvious. God is a Being of perfect ex-
cellence, and the only being of which we have any
knowledge, who possesses thi» character. Goodness
or holiness is the only source of real happiness ; it is
therefore necessary to be holy in order to be happy.
As the character of God is the only perfect model of
holiness, it follows that all God's creamres who are
intended to be happy, must have the like character.
But men will not aim to possess the character of holi-
ness, unless they love it as the chief good. Hence the
necessity of lovmg Grod with supreme afiection.
19. Sm is the source of all evil. If sin was admit-
ted into heaven, it would disturb the happiness of the
celestial abode. Hence God has determined that no
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ADVICE "ro THE TOUNO.' 990
Sinner shall be admitted into heaven. Before men can
be received there, thev must be purified from sin and
sinful propensities. As this world is a state in which
men are prepared for heaven, if prepared at all, it is
indispensable that while they are in this world, they
must be purified in heart, their evil afiections must be
subdued,, and their prevailing dispositions must be
holy. Thus when the^ are sanctified, and supreme
love to Grod rules in their heart, they become qualified
for the enjoyment of bliss with God and other holy
beings.
20. It is true that, in this world, men do not become
perfectly holy; but God has provided a Redeemer
whose example on earth was a perfect model of holy
obedience to God's law, which example men are to
imitate as far as they are able ; and God accepts the
penitent sinner's cordial faith in Christ, accompanied
with sincere repentance, and humble submission and
obedience to his commands, in the place of perfect ho-
liness of character.
2L The duties which you owe directly to God are
entire, unwavering faith in his promises, reverence of
his character, and frequent prayer and worship. Un-
belief is a great sin, and so is profaneness, irreverence,
contempt of his character and laws, neglect of prayer
and of worship, public and private. All worship of
images and samts, is an abomination to God ; it is
idolatry, which is strictly forbidden in the Bible ; and
all undue attachment to the pleasures, the amuse-
meats, and honors of the world, is a species of idola-
try.
22. The second class of duties comprehends all such
as you are bound to perform to your fellow men. These
duties are very numerous, and require to be studied
with care. Tne general law on this subject is pre-
scribed by Christ in these words, " Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself." You are bound to do that to
others which you desire them to do to you. This law
includes all the duties of respect to superiors, and of
justice and kindness to all men.
23. It has already been stated to you, that you are
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to obey your parents ; and although obedience to olher
superiors may not always be required of yoo, yet you
are bound to yield them due honor and respect in all
the concerns of life. Nothing can be more improper
than a neglect or violation of this respect. It is a beau-
tiful anecdote, recorded of the Spartan youth, that in a
public meeting young* persons rose from their seats
when a venerable old man entered the assembly. It
makes no difference whether the a^ed man is an ac-
quaintance or a stranger ; whoever ne may be, always
give him the precedence. In public places, and at pub-
lic tables, it is extreme rudeness and ill manners for
the young to thrust themselves into the highest and
best seats.
24. The law of kindness extends also to the treat-
ment of equals: Civility requires that to them all per-
sons shchild give a prefefrence ; and if they do not ac-
cept it, the offer always manifests good breeding, and
wms affection. Never claim too much ; modesty will
usually gain more than is demanded; but arrogance
will gain less. Modest unassuming manners conci-
liate esteettij bold obtrusive manners excite resent-
ment or disgust.
25. As mankind are all one family, the rale of lov-
ing our neighbor as ourselves extends le the perform-
ance of all duties of kindness to persons of all nations
and all conditions of men. Persons of all nations, of
all ranks and conditions, high and low, rich and poor,
and of all sects or denominations, are our brethren, and
our neighbors in the sense which Christ intended to
use the word in his precept. This comprehensive rule
of duty cannot be limited by any acts of our own.
Any private association of men for the purpose of con-
tracting the rule, and confining our benevolence to
such associations, is a violation of the divine com-
mands. Christ healed the sick and the lame, with-
out any regard to the nation or sect to which they
belonged.
26.^ One of the most important rules of social con-
duct is justice. This consists positively in rendering
to every person what is due to him, and negatively, in
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ADVICE TO THE YOCNO. 301
AToiding tr^Tf ihing that may impair hia rights.
Justice embraces the rights of property, the rights of
I)ersonal liberty and safety, and the rights of character.
27. In regard to property, yoii are to pay punctually
all your just debts. When a debt becomes payable to
another, you cannot withhold or delay payment with-
out a violation of his right. 'By failure or delay of
payment, you keep that which belongs to another.
But the rule of justice extends to every act which can
affect the property of another. If you borrow any ar-
ticle of your neighbor, vou are to use it with care and
not injure the value of it. If you borrow a book or
any utensil, and injure it, you take a portion of your
neighbor's property. Yet heedless people who would
not steal twenty-five cents from another, often think
nothing of injuring a borrowed utensil, to twice or five
times that amoutit.
28. In like manner, one who takes* a lease of a
house or land, is bound to use it in such a manner as
to injure it as little as possible. Yet how often do
the lessees of real estate strive to gain as much as
possible from the use of it, while thfey suffer the build-
ings and fences to go to ruin, to the great injury of the
owner ! This is one of the most common species of
immorality. But all needless waste, and all diminu-
tion of the value of property in the hands of a lessee,
proceeding from negligence, amounts to the same
thing as the taking of so much of the owner's property
without right. It is not considered as stealing, but it
is a species of fraud that is as really immoral as steal-
ing.
29. The command of God, " Thou shalt not steal,"
is very comprehensive, extending to the prohibition of
every species of fraud. Stealing is the taking of
something from the possession of another clandestinely
for one's own use. This may be done by entering the
house of another at night, and taking his property ; or
by taking goods from a shop secretly, or by entering
upon another's land and taking his horse or his sheep.
These customary modes of stealing are punishable by
law.
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30. But there are many other ways of taking otli^
men's property seoretly, which are not so liahle to be
detected. If a stone is put into a bag of cotton intends
ed for a distant market, it increases the weight, and the
purchaser of that bag who pa^ s for it at its weight,
buys a stone instead of its weight in cotton* In this
case, the man who first s^lls the bag, knowing it te
contain a stone, takes from the purchaser by fraud as
much money as the weight of the stone produces, that
is, as much as the same weight of cotton is worth.
This is as criminal as it would be to enter his house
and steal so much money.
31. If butter or lard is put up for a foreign or dis-
tant market, it should be put up in a good state, and
the real quality should be such as it appears to be. If
any deception is practiced, by covering that which is
bad by that which is good, or bjr other meanS) all the
price of the article which it brings beyond th^ real
worth, is so much money taken from the purchaser by
fraud, which falls within the criminality of stealing.
If a buyer of the article in Europe or the West Indies
is thus defrauded, Tie may never be able to know who
has done the wrong ; but God knows, and will p^nish
4the wrong doer. It is as immoral to cheat a foreigner
as to cheat a neighbor.
32. Not only property in money and goods is to be
respected ; but the property in miit growing in or-
chards and gardensi A man's apples, pears, peaches,
and melons, are as entirely his own, as nis goods or his
coin. Every person who climbs over a fence, dr entets
by a gate into another's inclosure without permission^
is a trespasser; and if he takes fruit secretly, he is a
thief. It makes no difference that a pear or an apple
or a melon is of small value : a man has as exclusive a
right to a cent or a melon as he has to a dime, a dollar^
or an eagle,
33. If in a country where apples are abundant, men
do not notice the taking of a few apples to eat, yet this
indulgence is not to be considered as giving a right to
take them. Where the injury is trifling, men in neigh*
borhoods may do such things by consent. But there
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are mfttty species of fruit so rare as to be coltiydted
with much labor and protected with care. Such fruit
is often valued even more than money. The stealing
of such fruit is one of the most common crimes, and as
disgraceful to a civilized and Christian people as it is
common. Let every man or boy who enters another's
inclosure and steals fruit, be assured he is as guilty as
one who enters another's house and ^ takes the same
value in money. •
34. If in making payment or counting money, a mis-
take occurs by which a sum falls into your hands,
which belongs to another person, you are as much
bound by moral duty to correct the mistake and restore
the money to the rightful owner, as you would be •not
to take it by theft. If persons suppose that because
this money flails into their hands by mistake, and the
mistake may never be known to the person who has a
right to the money ; this makes no diflFerence in the
point of morality ; the concealment of the mistake and
the keeping of the money are dishonest, and fall within
the command " Thou shalt not steal."
35. When a man is hired to work for another by the
day, the week, or the month, he is bound to perform
what he undertakes ; and If no particular amount of
labor is promised, he is bound to do the work which is
ordinarily done in such cases;. . If a man hired to do a
day's work^pends half the day in idleness, he defrauds
his employer of a part of his due ; that is, of one half
the value of a day's labor. If the price of labor is one
dollar for the day, then ta waste half the day in idle-
ness is to defraud the employer of half a dollar; this is
as dishonest as to take half a dollar from his chest.
36. When a mechanic contracts to build a house or
a ship, he is bound to perform the work in the manner
which is promised. If he performs the work slightly,
and with workmanship inferior to that which is pro-
mised and understood at the time of contracting, he de-
frauds his employer. Neglect of duty, in such a case,
is as essentiaUy immoral as the positive act of taking
property from another without his consent.
87. The adulteration of Ucjuors and drugs is ex*
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304 HISTORY OP THB UNITED STATES.
Iremely criminal. By Multeration, the valae of a
thing IS diminished ; and if an pidulterated liquor or
drug is sold for that which is genuine, a fraud is com-
mitted on the purchaser. The adulteration of wines
is one of the most common and flagrant immoralities
in commerpial countries. The adulteration of drugs
may be even more iniquitous, for then the physiciaa
cannot rely on their effects in healing the sick. All
classes of people, but especially the common people,
are continually subjected to frauds by such adultera-
tions. A glass of genuine unadulterated wine is
scarcely to be found, and foul mixtures are often used
as medicines, for no pure wine is to be had in the
neighborhood.
38. The modes used to defraud men in the kind or
in the quantity or quality of commodities offered for
s?ile, sxe almost innumerable. They extend to almost
every thing in which fraud is not easily detected.
This is a melancholy picture of the state of society ;
exhibiting unequivocal evidence of the depravity of
men. It shows that the love of money is the root of
all evil — a principle so powerful in the numan heart as
to overcome all regard to truth, morality, and reputation.
39. In all your dealings whhmen, let a strict regard
to veracity and justice govern all your actions. Up-
rightness in dealings secures confidence, and the conu-
depce of our fellow men is the basis of reputation, and
i^ft^ a S9urce of prosperity. Men are suwaya ready
io assist those whom they can trust ; and a good cha-
racter in men of business often raises them to wealth
and distinction. On the other hand, hypocrisy, tnck-
ishness, and want of punctuality and of fairness In
trade, often sink men into meanness and poverty.
Hence we see that the divine commands, which re^
quire nien to be jiist, are adapted to advance their temT
poral as well as their spiritual interest.
40. Not only are theft and fraud of all kinds forbid?
den by the laws of Qod and man, but all kinds of inji}?
ry or annoyance of the peace, security, rights, andpito^
perit)r of men. The juactice of boys and of men, who
io mischief for sport, is as wrong in morality .as it m
uigitizea by Google
ADVtCft TO THE YOtJNC. 905
degrading; to the character. To pull down or deface a
sign-board ; to break or deface a mile-stone ; to cut and
disfigure benches or tables, in a school house, court
house, or church ; to place obstacles in the highway :
to pull down or injure fences ; to tarnish the walls ol
houses or the boards of a fence, and similar tricks that
injure property or disturb the peace of society, are not
only mean but immoral. Wny will rational beings
indulge in such feats of mischief and folly ? Men are
not made to injure and annoy one another, but to as-
sbt them ; not to do harm, but to do good ; not to lessen,
but to increase the prosperity and enjoyments of their
fellow men*
41. But you are required to be just not only to the
property, but to the reputation of others. A man's re-
putation is dearer to him than his property, and he that
detracts from the good name of another is as criminal
as the thief who takes his property. Say nothing of
your neighbor maliciously, nor spread reports about
him to lessen his reputation. On the other hand, vin-
dicate his conduct in all cases when you can do it with
a clear conscience. If you cannot defend it, remain
silent
42. Nor are you to be less careful of the ri^ts of
others, than of their reputation and property. By the
laws of creation, and by our civil constitution, all men
have e^ual rights to protection, to liberty, and to the
free enjoyment of all the benefits and privileges of go-
vernment. All secret attempts, by associations, or
otherwise, to give to one set of men or one party ad-
vantages over another, are mean, dishonorable, and
immoral. All secret combinations of men to gain for
themselves or their party advantages in preferments to
office, are trespasses upon the rights of others.
43. In every condition of life, and in forming your
opinions on every subject, let it be an established prin-
ciple in regulating your conduct, that nothinff can be
honorable which is morally wrong. Men who disre-
gard or disbelieve revelation often err from the tru^
•ti^dard of honor, by substituting public opinion or
Mse mas^ms for the divine laws. The character of
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806 HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES.
Go 1, his noly attributes, and perfect law, constitute the
only models and rules of excellence and tme honor.
Whatever deviates from these models and rules must
be wrong, and dishonorable. Crime and vice are
therefore not only repugnant to duty, and to humaa
happiness; but are always derogatory to reputation.
All vice implies defect and meanness in human cha^
racter.
44. In whatever laudable occupation you are destined
to labor, be ^teady in an industrious application of time.
Time is given to you for employment, not for waste.
Most men are obliged to labor for subsistence ; and thi^
is a happy arrangement of things by divine appoint-
ment ; as labor is one of the best preservatives both of
health and of moral habits. But if you are not under
the necessitjr of laboring for subsistence, let your time
jbe occupied in something which shall do good to your-
selves and your fellow men. Idleness tends to lead
men into vicious pleasures ; and to waste time is iO
abuse the gifts of God.
45. With most persons, the gaining of property is a
primary object, and one which demands wisdom in
planning business, and assiduous care, attention, and
mdustry in conducting it. But it is perhaps more dif-
ficult to keep property than to gain it ; as men while
acquiring property are more econornical and make morc^
careful calculations of pro^t and loss, than when they
hold large possessions. Men who inherit large posses^-
sions are particularly liable to waste their property, and
fall into poverty. The greatest hereditary estates ia
this country are usually dissipated by the second or
third generation. The sons and grandsons of the rich^
est men are often hewers of wood and drawers of wa-
ter to the sons and grandsons of their father's and
grandfather's servants.
46. As a general rule in the expenditure of money,
it is safest to earn money before you spend it, and to
spend every year less than you earn. By this means,
you will secure a comfortable subsistence, and be ena-
bled to establish your children in some honest calling ;
at the same time, this practice will furnish the mean^
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ADVICE TO THE YOUNG. 307
<)f contributing to the wants of the poor, and to the pro-
motion of institutions for civilizing and Christianizing
heathen nations. This is a great and indispensable
duty.
47. In your mode of living, be not ambitious of
j&dopti,ng every extravagant fashion* Many fashions
are not only inconvenient and expensive, but inconsist-
ent with good taste. The love of finery is of savage
origin ; the rude inhabitant of the forest delights to
deck his person with pieces of shining metal, with
painted feathers, and with some "appendage dangling
from the ears or nose. The same love of finery infects
civilized men and women, more or less, in every coun-
try, and the body is adorned with brilliant gems and
gaudy attire. But true taste demands great simplicity
of dress. A well made person is one of the most beau-
tiful of all God's works, and a simple, neat dress, dis-
plays this person to the best advantage.
48. In all sensual indulgences be temperate. God
has given to men all good things for use and enjoy-
ment; but enjoyment consists in using food and drink
only for the nourishment and sustenance of the body,
ana all amusements and indulgences should be in mo-
deration. Excess never affords enjoyment ; but always
briiigs inconvenience, pain, or disease. In selecting
food and drink, take such as best support the healthy
functions of the body j avoid as much as possible the
stimulus of high-seasoned food ; and reject the use of ar-
dent spirits, as the most injurious and most fatal poison.
49. When you become entitled to exercise the right
of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your
mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, just
men who will rule in the fear of God, The preserva-
tion of a republican government depends on the faithful
discharge of this duty ; if the citizens neglect their duty,
and place unprincipled paen in office, the government
will soon be corrupted ; laws will be made, not for the
public good, so much as for selfish or local purposes j
<;orrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to exe-
cute the laws ; the public revenues will be squandered
on unworthy men^ and the rights of t^e citizens will
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306 BISTORT OP THE UNlTfiD 6tATCl.
be violated or disre^ded. If a republican govemmeili
fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must
be because the citizens neglect the divine commandsy
and elect bad men to make and administer the laws^
Intriguing men can never be safely trusted.
50. To young men I would recommend that tfifnir
treatment of females should be always characterized hf^
kindness, delicacy and respect, The tender sex look to
men for protection and support. Females when pro-
perly educated and devoted to their appropriate duties,
Are qualified to add greatly to the happuixess of society,
and of domestic liw. Endowed with finer sensibili-
ties than men, they are cjuick to learn and to practice
the civilities and courtesies of life ; their reputation re.*
quires the nice observance of the rules of decorum ; an4
tneir presence and example impose most salutary re-:
straints on the ruder passions and less polished manners
of the other sex. In the circle of domestic duties, they
are cheerful companions of their husbands ; they give
grace and joy to prosperity ; consolation and support
to adversity. Wnen we see an aflfectionate wife de-
voted to her domestic duties, cheering her husband
with smiles, and as a mother, carefully tending and
anxiously guarding her children and forming their
minds to virtue and tp piety ; or watching with conju-
^1 or maternal tenderness over the bed of sickness ;
we cannot fail to number among the chief temporal
advantages of Christianity, the elevation of the female
character. Let justice then be done to their merits ;
^ard their purity ; defend their honor ; treat theii\
with tenderness and respect.
61. For a kjiowled^e of the human heart, and the
characters of men, it is customary to resort to the wri-
ting of Shakspeare, and of other dramatic authors,
and to biogrisiphy, novels, tales, and fictitious narratives.
But whatever amusement may be derived from such
writings, they ^re not the best authorities for a know-
ledge of mantincl. The rnost perfect maxims and ex-
amples for regulating your social conduct and domestic
economy, as well as tne best rules of morality and re-
ligtop, are to be found in the Bible. The history of th^
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ADVICE TO THE YOUNCr 309
Je^s present9r£he true character of man in all its^ fbrms.
All tl^ traits of human character, good and bad ; all th»
passions, of the human heart; all the principles which
guide and misguide men in society, are depicted in that
short history, with an artless simplicity that has no pa-
rallel in modem writings. As to maxims of wisdom or
prudence, the Proverbs of Sbloman furnish a complete
system^ and sufficient, if carefully observed, to make any
man wise, prosperous, and happy. The observation, that
** a soft answer turneth away wrath," if strictly observ-
ed by men, rwould prevent naif the broils ana conten-
tions that inflict vn-etchedness on society and families*,
&2. Li^t your first care through life, be directed to
support ana extend the influence of the Christian reli-
gion, and the observance of the sabbath. This is the
only system of jeligion which has ever been ofiered to
the consideration und acceptance of men, which has
even probable evidence of a divine original ;. it is the
only religion that honors the character and moral go*
vernment of the Supreme Being; it is the only religion
which gives even a probable account of the origin of
the world, and .of the dispensations of God towards
mankind; it is l3ie only religion which teaches the
character and laws of God, with our relations and our
duties to him ; it is the only religion which assures us
of an immortal existence ; which offers the means of
everlasting s.alvation, and consoles mankind under the
inevitable calamities of the present life.
53. But were we assured that there is to be no fu-
ture life, and that men are to perish at death like the
beasts oi the field ; the moral principles and precepts
contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of
jEiW our -civH eonstitutiQns and laws. These principles
and precepts have truth, immutable truth, for their
foundation j and they are adapted to the wants of men
in every condition of life. They are the best princi-
ples and precepts, because they are exactly adapted to
secure the practice of universal justice and kindness
among men ; and of course to prevent crimes, war, and
disorders in society. No human laws dictated by dif-
ferent principles from those JQ the gospel, can ever se-
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sit) HISTORY OP THIS tTNTTfiD inTATES.
cure tkese objects. All the miseries and evils whieh
men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, op-
pression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising
or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.
54, As the means of temporal happiness then the
Christian religion ous^ht to be received, and maintained
with firm and cordial support. It is tne real source of
all genuine republican principleii. It teaches the
/equality of men as to rights and duties ; and while it
forbids all oppression, it commands due subordination
to law and niters. It requires the young to yield obe?
dience to their parents, and enjoins upon men the duty
of selecting their rulers from their fellow citizens of
mature age, sound wisdom, and real religion — "men
who fear God and hate covetousness." The ecclesir
fistical estd>li8hments of Europe, which serve to sup^
port tyrannical governments, are not the Christian reU-
gion, out abuses and corruptions of it. The religion of
Christ and his apostles, in its primitive simplicity and
purjtf , unencumbered with the trappings of power and
the pomp of ceremonies, is the surest basis of a repub-
lican government.
S^. l^ever cease then to ^ive to religion, to its insti-
tutions, and to its ministers^ your strenuous support.
'The clergv in this country are not possessed of rank
4uid wealtn ; they depend for their influence on their
talents and leamii^, on their private virtues and pub-
lic services. They are the firm supporters of law and
good order, the friends of peace, the expounders and
teachers of Christian doctrines^ the instructors of youthL.
the promoters of benevolence, of charity, and of all
useful improvements. During the war of the revolu-
tion, the clergy were generally friendly to the c&use of
the country. The present generation can hardly have
a tolerable idea of the iiifluence of the New-England
clergy, in sustaining the patriotic exertions of the peo-
ple, under the appaBing discouragements of the war.
The writer remembers their good offices with gratitude.
Those men therefore who attempt to impair the influ-
enice of that respectable order, in this country, attempt
to undermine the best supports of religion j and those
■a ay ^<jKjy^\ci\^
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG. 311
Vlio destroy the influence and authority of the christian
Religion, sap the foundations of public order, of liberty,
«nd of republican government.
66. For instruction then in social, religious, and civil
duties, resort to the scriptures for the best^recepts and
most excellent examples for imitation. The example
of unhesitating faith and obedience in Abraham, when
he promptly jMrepared to offer his son Isaac, as a burnt
offering, at the cbitiniand of God, is a perfect model of
that trust in God which becomes dependent beings.
The history of Joseph. furnishes one of the most charm-
ing examples of fraternal affection, and of filial duty
and respect for a venerable father, ever exhibited in
human life. Christ and his apostles presented, in their
lives, the most perfect example of dismterested benevtf-'
lence, unaffected kindness^ humility, patience in ad-
Tcrsity, forgiveness of injuries, love to God^ and to alt
mankind. If men would universally cultivate these
teligious affections and virtuous dispositions, with as
tnuch diligence as they cultivate human science anrf
refinement of manners, the world would soon become
a terrestrial paradise.
,y Google
FAREWELL ADDRESS
OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Fbibnds and Fsllow ClTIZKirS,
The period for a new election of a citizen, to administer the
executive government of the United States beins not fieur diatant,
and the time actually arrived when your thougnta must be em-
ployed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that
important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may
conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that 1
should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline
being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice
is to oe made. I beg you, at the same time, to do me the iustice
to be assured, that this resolution has not been taken, witfiout a
strict reg^ard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation
which binds a dutiful citizen to his country ; and that^ in with-
drawing tlie tender of service which silence m my situation might
imply, 1 am influenced by no dimiuntion of zeal for your future
interest — no deficiency of grateful respect, for your past kindness ;
but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible
witli botli.
2. The acceptance o^ and continuance hitherto in, the office to
which your suffrages have twice called me, have been a uniform
sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty, and to a deference for
what appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped, that it-
would nave been much earlier in my power, consistently with
motives which I was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that
retirement from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The
strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the last election,-
had even led to the preparation of an addiess to declare it to you ;
but mature reflection on the tJien perplexed and critical posture
of our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice
of persons entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon
the idea.
3. I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as
internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible
with the sentiments of duty, or propriety; and am persuaded,
whatever partiality may be retained lor my services^ that in tho
,y Google
Washington's valediqtory. 318
present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove
my determination to retire.
4. The impressions with which 1 first undertook the arduous
trust, were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of
this trust, I will only say, that I have, with good intentions, con-
tnbuted towards the organization and administration of the
government, the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment
was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority of
my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps still more
in the eyes of others, has strengthened the motive to diffidence of
mysielf ; and, everjr day^ the increasing weight of years admo-
niahes me more and more that the shade of retirement is as necessary
to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any circumstances
have OTven peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I
have the consolation to believe, that while choice and prudence
invite me to (^^uit the political scene, patriotism doss not forbid it.
6. In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to
terminate the dareer of my public life, my feelmfs do not permit
me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that oebt of gratitude
which I owe to my beloved country* for the many honors it has
conferred upon me ; still more for the steadfast confidence witli
which it has supported me; and for Che opportunities I l^iave
thence enjoyed oi manifei^ing mv inviolable attachment, by ser-
vices faithful and persevering, tliough in usefulness unequal to
ffiy zeal. If benents have resultea (o our country from these
services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an
instructive example in our annal^ that under eircumi^ndes in
which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to
mislead, amidst appearances sometimes dubious — ^vicissitudes of
fortune often discouraging— in situations in which not unfire-
quently want of success nas countenanced tlie spirit of criticism —
the constancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts,
and a guaranty of the plans by which they were effected.
6. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with
me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that
Heaven may continue to vou the choicest tokens of its beneficence
— that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual —
that the free' constitution, which is the work of your handiL may
be sacredly maintained — that its administration in every depart-
ment may be stamped with wisdom and virtue — that, in fine, the
happiness of the people of these states, under the auspices of
liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a preservation and
60 prudent a use of this blessing, as will acquire to them the glory
of recommending it to the applause, the affection and the adoption
of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.
7. Here perhaps I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your
welfiEire, which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehension
of danger, natural to diat solicitude, urge me, on an occasion hke the
present, to offer to yout solemn contem^dation^ and to recommend
to your frequent review, some sentiments^ wiuch are the result of
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3l4 BidfORt 6t THB UNITBD STATES.
much reflection, of no inconsiderable obiervation, and which
appear to me all important to the permanency of your fieUcttv at
a people. These will be offered to you with the more fireeciom,
as you can only see in them the disinterested warning of a pait^
ing friend, who can possibly have no personal motives to bias his
eounciL Nor can I forget as an encouragement to it, your
indulgent reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimi-
lar occasion. Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every
Jigament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necesaarf
to fortify or confirm the attachmient.
8. The unity of goVemraent which constitutes you one people
isalA) now dear ta you. It is justly so ;f for it is a main pillar
in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your
tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety ; of your
prosperity ; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But
as it is easy to foresee/ that from different causes and from diffsfv
ent quarters, much p&ins will be taken, many artifices employed,
to weaken in yc^f minds the conviction of this truth ; as this is
the point in your political fortress against which the batteries o{
internal and eztemal enemies will b^ most constantly and actively
(though oft^ri Covertly and insidiously) directed, H is of infinite
moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value ot
your national union, to your oolli&ctive and individual happiness ;
that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable
attachment to it ; accudtoming yoarselves to think and to upetik of
it as the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity ; die-
countenancing whatever may (Suggest even a suspicion that it
can in any event be abandoned ; and indignantly frowning upon
the first dswning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our
country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which ncn#
link together the vArious.parta
9. For this you have every inducement of sympathy and
interest. Citi2en8 by birth or choice,' of a common country, that
countr^r has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of
AmertcafiyWhicn belong to you in your national capacity, must
always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any appella^
tion derived from local discriminationa With slight shades of
difference, you have the same reUg^on, manners, habits^ and
political principles. You have in a common cause foiight and
triumphed together f the independence and liberty you possess
are the work of joint councili^ and joint efibti^ of common
Danger, sufferings, and success. But these considerations, how-
ever powerfully they address tliemselves to your sensibility, are
greatly outweighed by those which apply more immediately to your
interest Here every portion of our country finds the most com-
manding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the UmoQ
of the whole.
10. The North, in an unreArained intercourse with the S»u^
protected by the equal laws of a common government finds in the
productions of the ktler, gnax additioiwl reiourcei of marittM
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Washington's valedictory. 315
ftod commercial ei^terprise, and pnecjyouf materialf of manufacturr
ing induitry. The South, in the fame intercou^ie, benefiting by
the agency of th3 Norths sees it» agriculture grow, and its com-
merce expand. Turning partly into its own channels the seamen
of the Norths it finds its particular navigation invigorated ; and
while it contributes, in different ways, to nourish ana increase the
g;eneral mass of the national navigation, it looks forward to the
protection of a maritime strength, to which itself is unequally
adapted. Tlie Easty in a like intercourse with the West, already
finda^ and in the progressive improvement of interior communica-
tioni, ^y }and ana water, will more and more find, a valuable vent
for j^e ci^mmodities which it brings from abroad, or manu&ctures
at l^ome. The W^ derives from the East supplies requisite to
its growth and comfort — and what is perhaps ol still greater con-
flequenee, it must of necessity owe the secure enjoyment of indis-
pensable outlet^ for its own prodiictions to tl^ weight, influence,
and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the
union directed by an indissoluble community of interest as one
KATioiY, Any other tenure by which the West caia lipid this
essential advantage, whether derived from its own separate
strength, or from an apostate and unnatural conueziop with any
foreign power, must be intrinsically precarious.
11. While then every part of our country thus feels an imme-
<liate and particular interest in union, all the parties combined
cannot feul to find in the united mass of means and efforts greatei
strength, greater resource^ proportionably greater security from
external danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by
foreign nations ; and, what i.s of in^imable value, they must
derive from union an exemption from those broils ana wars
between themselves, -which so frequently afflict neighboring
countries, not tied together by the same government ; which their
own riyalshiips alone would l)e sufiicient to produce, but which
opposite alliances, attachments^ and intrigues, would stimulate
and embitter. Hence, likewise they will avoid the necessity of
those overgrown military establishments which, under any form
of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be
regarded as particularly hostile t9 ri^publican liberty; in this
sense it is, that your umon ought to be considered ap amam prop
of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear yoti
to the preservation of the other.
12. These considerations speak a persuasive language to every
reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the
union as a primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a doubt,
whether a common government can embrace so large a sphere %
tict experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a
case were criminal We are authorized to hope that a proper
organization of the whole, with the auxiliary agency of govern-
ments for the respective subdivision^ will anord a happy issue tq
the experiment. Tis well worth a fair and full experiment.
With euch powerful wd obvious motives to umon, affecting all
ly VJ»^7\^VI\^
316 BISTORT OF TBE UNITED STATES.
parts of our eountry, while experience shall not have demon-
strated its impracticability, there will always be reason to distrust
the patriotism of those, who in any quarter may endeavor to
weaken its banda
13. In contemplating the causes that may disturb our union, it
occurs as a matter of serious concern, tliat any ground should
have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical
discriminations — tiorthem and wuth^ti—Attanw and weitem :
whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there ie
a real difference of local interest and viewa One of the expedients
of party to acquire influence, within particular districts^ is to
misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districta You can-
not shield yourself too much against the jealousies and heart
burnings wnich spring from these misrepresentations : they tend
to ren(fer alien to each other those who ought to be bound together
by fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our western country
have lately had a useful lesson on this head : they have seen in
the negotiation by the executive, and in the unanimous ratifica-
tion by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and in the universal
satisfaction at that event throughout the United States, a decisive
proof how unfounded were the suspicions propaeated among them
of a policy in the general government and in tlie Atlantic statei^
unfriendly to their mterest m regard to the Miasisaippi: they have
been witnesses to the formation of two treaties that with Great
Britain and that with Spain, whioh secure to them every thing t|)ey
eould desire, in respect to our fereign relations, towards confiimi-
ing their prosperity. Will k not be their wisdom to rely for the
preservation of these advantages on the union by which they
were procured ? Will they not henccfortli be deaf to those advi-
sers, if such there are, who would sever them from their brethren
and connect them with aliena
14. To tlie efficacy and permanency of your union, a govem-r
ment for the whole is indispensable. No alfiancea, however strict,
between the parts, can be an adequate substitute : tliey must
inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions which all
aJUanses in all times have experienced. Sensiole of this mo-
mentous truth, you have improved your first essay, by the
adoption of a constitution of government better calculated than
your former, for an intimate union, and for the efficacious
management of your common concerns. This government, the
offspring of our own choice, unin^uenced and unawed, adopted
upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free
in its principles, in the distribution of its powers^ uniting security
with energy, and containing within itselt a provision tor its own
amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support
Respect for its authority, compliance with its lawi^ aquiescenoe
it its measures^ are duties enjoin^ by the fundamental maxims
of true liberty. The basis of our political system is the right of
the people to make and alter their constitutions of govemmenL
6ut, the constitution which at any time exisu till chan^ by aa
uigitizea by ^^jkjkjwk.
WAgHINOTON*S VALEDICTORT. 317
explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obli-
g^ry upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the
people to establish government, presupposes the duty of every
individual lo obey the established government.
15. All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combina-
tions and associations, under whatever plausible character, with
the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular
deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive
of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They
serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary
force — to put in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the
will of a party, often a small but artfiU and enterprising minority
of the eommunity; anc^ according to the alternate tnumphs of
different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of
the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than
the or^an of consistent and wliolesome plans digested by common
conncila, and moJified by mutual interests. However combina-
tions or asjociatioMs of the above descri nion may now and then
anr.ver potnilar ends, they are likely in the cotirse of time and
things to become [>otent engines, by which cunning, ambitious,
and unprincipled men, will be enabled to subvert the power of tlie
people, and to usurp to themselves the reins of government;
destroying afterwards the very energies which have lifted them
to unjjist dominion.
16. Towards the preservation of your government, ?^d the
permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only
that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its
acknowledged authority, hut also that you resist with care the
spirit of innovation upon its principle?, however specious the pre-
text. One method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the
constitution, alterations which will impair the energy of the
system, and thus to undermine what cannot be overthrown. In
all the changes to which you may be mvited, remember that tims
and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of
governments, as of other hnmlan institutions — that experience is
tne surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the ex-
isting constitution of a country — ^that facility in changes upon
the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual
change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion ; and
remamber especially, that for the efficient management of youir
common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government
of as much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of
liberty, is * indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a
government, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its
surest guardian. It is, indeed, little else than a name where the
government is too feeble to widistand the enterprises of faction, to
confine each member of the society within the limits prescribed
by the law, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoy-
ment of the rights of person and property.
17. I havs already intijnated to yon, tlis dtipg^ of panics ia
21\
ly VJ»^7\^VI\^
dlS BI9T0KT or THE UNITED STATES.
th6 itate, with p«rticular reference to the founding of tham «n
geographical diKriminationt. Let me now take a more eonk^re-
hennve view, and warn yoa in the moet eolemn manner ti^^tkiam.
the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. Thia ^int, ua-
fertunately, ie inseparable from our nature, having its root in the
strongest passions of the human mind. — ^It exists under diffisrent
shapes in all ^OTemmenti^ more or less stifled, controlled, or re-
pressed i but m those of the popular form, it is seen in iu greatest
rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domina-
tion of one (action ovet another, sharpened by the spirit of reveajge^
natural to party dissention, which, in different ages and countriei^
has perpetrated the most horrid enormities^ is itself frightful des-
potism. But this leads at leneth to a more formal and permanent
desjKitism. The disorders and miseries which result, gradual^
incline the mmds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute
power of an individual : and sooner or later the chief of some pre-
vailing' faction, more able or more fortunate than his competiton^
turns mis disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the
ruins of public liberty.
13, Without looking forward to anextremity of this kind, (which
loevertheless ou^^ht not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and
eontinual mischiefs of the spirit of'^ party are sushcient to make it
the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain
it It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble
the publio administration. It agitates the community with ill-
founded jealousies and fieilse alarms ; kindles the animosity of one
part against anothei^ foments qpcasionally riot and insurrection.
Itooens the doQfpo foreign iofluence and comiplion, which finds a
£icilitated access to the government itself, through the channels of
party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are
subjected to the policy and will of another.
19. 'niere is an opinion that parties in free countries are usefnl
checks upon tlie administration of the government, and serve to
keep aUve the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is pro-
bably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism
may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of
party. But m those of a popular character, in nivemments purely
elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural
tendency, it is certam there will always be enough of that spirit
for every salutary purpose. And there being constant dang:cr of
excess, the effort ouffht to be by force of publio opinion, to mitigate
and assuage it A fire not to be quenched ; it demands a uniform
vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warm-
ing, it should consume.
20. It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free
country, should inspire caution, m those intrusted with its admi-
nistration, to confine themselves within their respective constitu-
tional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one depart-
ment to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tertds
to consolidate the powers of all the depart^tents in one^ and tbos
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
WASHINQTOn's VALEDKJTOftY. 319
to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A
j«Mt estimate of that love of power, and proneness to ahuae it,
which predominates in the human l-»eart, ie sufficient to satisfy us
of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in
the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into
iiifferent depositories, and constituting each the guardian of
public weal against invasions by others^ has been evinced by ex-
periments ancient and modem, some of them in our country and
under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to
institute thenu I^ in the opinion of the people, the distribution or
inodiiication of the constitutional powers be in any particular
w^rong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the
constitution desiffnates. But let there be no change by usurpa-
tion ; for though this, in one instance, may be me instrument
xy( good, it is tlie customary weapon by which free governments are
destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in
permanent evil any partial or transient benefit which the use can
at any time yield.
21. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political pros-
perity, religion and morality are indispensable supporta — In vain
would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor
to subvert these grsat pillars of human happiness, these firmest
props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician,
equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.
A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and
public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for
,prt^rty> for reputation, for hfe, if the sense of religious obligation
desert tlie oatfcu^ which are the instruments of investigation in
courts of justice ; and let us with caution indulge the supposition,
that morality can be maintained without religion. Wliatever may
be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of pe-
culiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect
that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious prin-
ciple. 'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a neces-
sary earing of popular government. The rule indeed extends with
more or less fcnrce to every species of free government. Who that
is a sincere friend to it can look with ineUflerence upon attempts
to shake the foundation of the fabric 1
22. Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, insti-
tutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. — In proportion
as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is
Msential diat public opinion should be enlightened. As a very
important source of strength and security, uierish public credit.
One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible ;
avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace ; but remem-
bering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger, fre-
JiueuUy prevent much greater disbursements to repel it ; avoiding
ikewise the accumulations of debt, not only by shunning occa-
sions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to dis-
cliaige ths debts whicft unavoidable wars may have occasioned,
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
tSO HISTORY OF THE ONirfiD aPATES.
liot ungenerously throwing upon potterity the burden which ire
ounelvee ought to bear. The execution of these maxims beloogs
10 your represeniatives, but it is necessary that public opinion
should co-operate. To fieicilitate to them the performance ot their
duty, it is eaaeutic^} that you diould practically bear in mind, that
Awards the payment of debts there must be revenue ; to have
revenue there must be taxes ; that no taxes can be devised which
are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; th^t theintrinair
embarrassment inseparable from the selection of the proper object
(which is always a choice of difficulties) ought to be a decisive
motive for a candid construction of the conduct of tlie governmen.
in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for
obtaining revenue which the public emergencies may at any time
dictate.
1^ Observe good faith and justice towards all natiqns ; culti-
vate peace ahd harmony with all ; religion and morality enjoin
fhis conduct; and can it be that good pohcy does not equally en-
join iti It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no dis-
tant period, a great nation, to eive to mankind the n^agnanimous
and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted
justice and benevolence. VVho oan doubt tliat in the course of time
and things the fruits of such 9, plan would richly repay any tem-
pqr^ry advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence
^ *^^. ^^^ ^' ^ ^^^ Providence has not connected the perma-
nent felicity of a nation with its virtue % The experiment at least
IS recominended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature.
Alas I IS It rendered impossible by ite vices 1
24. In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential
than that permanent inveterate antipathies against particular na-
tions, antj p^onate attachments for others, should be excluded ;
tm that m place of them just and amicable feelings towards all
■hould be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another
an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a
V\ •'' "/J* "^^^ ^ ^^* animosity, or to its affection, eimer of
which 18 sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.
AnUpathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily
^ S"*^ *"f^^^ *"^ ij^Ju^T* ^ ^y ^o^il of slight causes of umbrage»
and to be haughty and mtract^ble, when accidental or trifling oe-
casxons of dismite occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate,
envenomed, ^nd bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill will
and resentment, soipetimes impels to war the government, con-
trary tq the beat calculations of policy. The government some-
times participates m the national propensity, and adopte through
pasaon what reason would reject j at other times it makes the ani-
mosity of the nauon subsjervient to projects of hostility instigated
»y pnd^ ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motivea Tha
IJ^aeeoflei^ sometunes perhaps the Uberty, of nations has been t^
wSdiii? a^?v^??^?°*^*"'*^^»' <^^«^«» "^^^'^ foranothw
, jP?^"««« a variety p? ,vUs. Synipathy f^r ^ ^yqiitQ nation, fe.
uigitizea by Google
Washington's valedictory. ^1
eilitating the illusion of an imagin&ry common interest, in cases
where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the
enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in
the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inaucement
or justification. It leads also to the concessions to the favorite
nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure
the nation making the concessions ; by unnecessarily parting with
what ought to have been retained ; and by exciting jealousy, ill
will, and a disposition to retalliate, in the parties from whom equal
privileges are withheld : and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or
deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation) fa-
cility to betray, or sacrifice the interests of their own country, with-
<)ut odium, sometimes even with popularity ; gilding with the ap-
pearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable de-
ference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the
base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or inuituation.
26. As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such
attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened
and independent patriot How many opportunities do they afford
to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction.
to fnislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils I
Such an attachment of small or weak, towards a great and power-
ful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.—
Affainst the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you lo
believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to
be CONSTANTLY awakc ; since history and experience prove that
foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of repuolican go-
vernment But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial :
else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided,
instead of a defense against it — Excessive partiality for one fo-
reign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom
they actuate, to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil an J
even second the arts of influence on the other. — Real patriots, wh*
may resist the intfigues of the favorite, are liable to become sus-
pected and odious ; while its tools ana dupes usurp the applause
and confldence of the people, to surrender their interests. The
gpreat rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in ex-
tending our commercial relations, to have with them as little po-
litical connexion as possible. So far as we have already form-
ed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good toith. —
Here let us stop.
27. Europe nas a set of primary intere^s, which to us have
none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in
frequent controversies, tlie causes of which are essentially foreign
to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to im-
plicate ourselves by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of
tier politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her
friendships, or enmities. Our detached and distant situation in*
vites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain
cme people, tinder an efficient government, the period is not fajoS^
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
f
823 BISTORT or the united STATE8.
ivheu we may defy material injury from external annpyancej
i^hen we may take fuch an attitude as will cause the neutrality
«re may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected ;
when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making ac<|ui-
•itions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation;
when we may choose peace or war, as our uiterest, guided by jus-
tice, shall counsel
28. Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation!
Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by in-
terweaving our destiny with tnat of anypart of Europe, entai^le
our peace and prosperity in the toils ot European ambition, rival-
Ifhipw iiSterest, humor, or caprice 7 'Tis our true policy to steer
cl^r of p<irmanent alliance^ with any portion of the forein
world ; so fa^, I mean,' as we are now at liberty to do it ; for fet
me not Tne nntlerjiitood as capable of patronizing infidelity to exist-
ing titgBji^nieijta, I hold the maxim no less applicable to public
tkiftn to pftvnte anairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I
rejieat it, ili>t:rerefore, let those engagements be observe in their
genuinr mum. Bnt^ in piy opinion, it is unnecessary, and would
c uiiwiae, to extend them. Taking care always to keep ourselves,
by BiiitEible eit^bJlsh'hi'entB, on a respectable defensive posture, we
may qJely U^iX. to temporary alliances for jBXt^aordumry emer^
^ 29 MarraoDy, liberal intercourse with all nations^ are recom-
iiMndcd If jf pphcy, humanity, and interest But even our commer-
^h.( p6\ky ftlkoulij hold an equal and impartial hand; neither
K^kins^ nor ^rii[iti;\f exclusive favors or preferences; consulting
tile iiahieaL cuursse of things; diffusing eina diversifying by gentle
ine«ine ctiih^rearEu of commerce, but forcing nothing; eBtabhsbiug
with I'dwe^a eo diej^sed, in order to give trade a stable course, to
d^fiije tlje ri^btH of our merchants, and to enable the government
1^ Aufij'on thr::m, ruQventional rules of intercbulrse, the best Uriat
fn'^etii cirtMiiiistiiifcces and mutual opinion wifl' permit, but tempo-
riiry, unJ huh\e to be from time to time varied, as experience or
eirtiujiilmncei sliiill dictate; constantly keeping in view, that 'ti^
folly in 011 c nfitjun to look for disinterested favors from anotlier;
liiat 11 inuet pay with a tvortioa of its independence for whatever it
may accent under that cliaracter ; that by such arce| tancc, it may
place itsietf in the condition of havine; given equivalents for nomi?
lial iiBtyors, and yet of being reproacnea with ingratitude for not
giving more, nfliere can he no greater error thap to expect, or cal-
culate dp'bn' real fovors from nation to nation. 'Tis an illusion
which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
30. In' offering to you, my countrymen, tnese counsels of an old
and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong
and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control tlid
usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running
the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations : bu^
if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of aoin^
xirtiftl beneflt| some occasional good ; tnat they may ngw oimI
■a ay ^<jKjy^\ci\^
WASHINGTON'S VALEOICTORT. 888
(hen recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn againit
the mischiefs of foreign intrigues, and guajrd against the impos-
tures of pretended patriotism ; this hope will be a full recompeiuia
for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dio-^
tated. How far, in the discharge of my official duties, I have been
guided by the principles which haVe been clelineated, the public re-
cords and other evidences of my conduct must witness to yoa
and to the world. To myself the assurance of my, pwn conscience
is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them,
31. In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my procla-
mation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to my plan. Sant^
tioned by your approving voice, and by that of your representatii^es
in both houses of congress, the spirit of that measure has conti-
nually governed me ; uninfluenced by any attempt to deter or di-
vert me from it. After deliberate examination, with the aid of the
best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country:
under all the circumstances of the 6a^ had A iigbt ^ take; ana
was bound in duty and interest, to take a neutral positioii HAv^
ing taken it, I determined as nir as should depend upon me io
maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, ana firmness.
32. The con^deration which respects the ri^t to hold the
conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will
only observe, that according to m^r understanding of the matter,
that right, so far from beine denied by any of the belligerent
powers, has been virtually aomitted by all. The duty of holding
a neutral conduct may be inferred w.ithout any thing iildre, from
the obligation which justic^ and humanity inopbcte tipon every
nation, in cases in which it is free to act. to maintain inviolatt^ the
relations of peace and amity towards other nations. Tlie induce-
ments of interest for observing that conduct irtll best be referred
to your own reflections amf experience. With me, a predo-
minant motive lias been to eti^eftVor to gain time to our country
to settle and matiu-e its vet recent institution^ and to progrese
Without interruption, to that degree of stren^h and consistelicy^
which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of
its own fortiines.
33. Tho* in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am
unconscious of intentional error : I am nevertheless too sensible
of my defects not to think it probable that I have committed
many errors Whatever they may be, I ferventlv beseech the
flmighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which tney infty tend,
shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never
cease to view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five
years of my life, dedicated to its service, with an upright zeaJ,
the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to obUvion,
as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest, tlelyine- on iti
kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent
love towards it, which is so natural to a man who views in it the
■tttive soil of himself and his progenitors for several generationsf
i anticipate with pleasing e:igpeotation that retreat, in which I
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
3^ BISTORT OP THE UNITED STATE9-
promiie myielf to realize Vithout alloy, the sweet enjoyment
of partaking in the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influ-
ence of goal laws under a free govemment---the ever favorite
object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our
mutual care, labours, and dangers.
O. WASHINGTON.
1
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